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Wang D, Jiang P, Wu X, Zhang Y, Wang C, Li M, Liu M, Yin J, Zhu G. Requirement of microtubules for secretion of a micronemal protein CpTSP4 in the invasive stage of the apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum. mBio 2024; 15:e0315823. [PMID: 38265238 PMCID: PMC10865969 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03158-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum is a global contributor to infantile diarrheal diseases and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised or weakened individuals. Like other apicomplexans, it possesses several specialized secretory organelles, including micronemes, rhoptry, and dense granules. However, the understanding of cryptosporidial micronemal composition and secretory pathway remains limited. Here, we report a new micronemal protein in C. parvum, namely, thrombospondin (TSP)-repeat domain-containing protein-4 (CpTSP4), providing insights into these ambiguities. Immunostaining and enzyme-linked assays show that CpTSP4 is prestored in the micronemes of unexcysted sporozoites but secreted during sporozoite excystation, gliding, and invasion. In excysted sporozoites, CpTSP4 is also distributed on the two central microtubules unique to Cryptosporidium. The secretion and microtubular distribution could be completely blocked by the selective kinesin-5 inhibitors SB-743921 and SB-715992, resulting in the accumulation of CpTSP4 in micronemes. These support the kinesin-dependent microtubular trafficking of CpTSP4 for secretion. We also localize γ-tubulin, consistent with kinesin-dependent anterograde trafficking. Additionally, recombinant CpTSP4 displays nanomolar binding affinity to the host cell surface, for which heparin acts as one of the host ligands. A novel heparin-binding motif is identified and validated biochemically for its contribution to the adhesive property of CpTSP4 by peptide competition assays and site-directed mutagenesis. These findings shed light on the mechanisms of intracellular trafficking and secretion of a cryptosporidial micronemal protein and the interaction of a TSP-family protein with host cells.IMPORTANCECryptosporidium parvum is a globally distributed apicomplexan parasite infecting humans and/or animals. Like other apicomplexans, it possesses specialized secretory organelles in the zoites, in which micronemes discharge molecules to facilitate the movement and invasion of zoites. Although past and recent studies have identified several proteins in cryptosporidial micronemes, our understanding of the composition, secretory pathways, and domain-ligand interactions of micronemal proteins remains limited. This study identifies a new micronemal protein, namely, CpTSP4, that is discharged during excystation, gliding, and invasion of C. parvum sporozoites. The CpTSP4 secretion depends on the intracellular trafficking on the two Cryptosporidium-unique microtubes that could be blocked by kinesin-5/Eg5 inhibitors. Additionally, a novel heparin-binding motif is identified and biochemically validated, which contributes to the nanomolar binding affinity of CpTSP4 to host cells. These findings indicate that kinesin-dependent microtubular trafficking is critical to CpTSP4 secretion, and heparin/heparan sulfate is one of the ligands for this micronemal protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Peng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaodong Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Meng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mingxiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jigang Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Cai YC, Yang CL, Song P, Chen M, Chen JX. The protective effects of BMSA1 and BMSA5-1-1 proteins against Babesia microti infection. PARASITES, HOSTS AND DISEASES 2024; 62:53-63. [PMID: 38443770 PMCID: PMC10915264 DOI: 10.3347/phd.23077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The intracellular parasite Babesia microti is among the most significant species causing human babesiosis and is an emerging threat to human health worldwide. Unravelling the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of babesiosis is crucial in developing new diagnostic and preventive methods. This study assessed how priming with B. microti surface antigen 1 (BHSA 1) and seroreactive antigen 5-1-1 (BHSA 5-1-1) mediate protection against B. microti infection. The results showed that 500 µg/ml rBMSA1 and rBMSA5-1-1 partially inhibited the invasion of B. microti in vitro by 42.0 ± 3.0%, and 48.0 ± 2.1%, respectively. Blood smears revealed that peak infection at 7 days post-infection (dpi) was 19.6%, 24.7%, and 46.7% in the rBMSA1, rBmSA5-1-1, compared to the control groups (healthy mice infected with B. microti only), respectively. Routine blood tests showed higher white blood cell, red blood cell counts, and haemoglobin levels in the 2 groups (BMSA1 and BMSA5 5-1-1) than in the infection control group at 0-28 dpi. Moreover, the 2 groups had higher serum interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α and Interleukin-17A levels, and lower IL-10 levels than the infection control group throughout the study. These 2 potential vaccine candidate proteins partially inhibit in vitro and in vivo B. microti infection and enhance host immunological response against B. microti infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chun Cai
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200025,
China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research)
| | - Chun Li Yang
- Department of Clinical Research, the 903rd Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou 310013,
China
| | - Peng Song
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200025,
China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research)
| | - Muxin Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200025,
China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research)
| | - Jia Xu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200025,
China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research)
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Gao J, Jiang N, Zhang Y, Chen R, Feng Y, Sang X, Chen Q. A heparin-binding protein of Plasmodium berghei is associated with merozoite invasion of erythrocytes. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:277. [PMID: 37563696 PMCID: PMC10416508 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05896-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria caused by Plasmodium species is a prominent public health concern worldwide, and the infection of a malarial parasite is transmitted to humans through the saliva of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Plasmodium invasion is a rapid and complex process. A critical step in the blood-stage infection of malarial parasites is the adhesion of merozoites to red blood cells (RBCs), which involves interactions between parasite ligands and receptors. The present study aimed to investigate a previously uncharacterized protein, PbMAP1 (encoded by PBANKA_1425900), which facilitates Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbANKA) merozoite attachment and invasion via the heparan sulfate receptor. METHODS PbMAP1 protein expression was investigated at the asexual blood stage, and its specific binding activity to both heparan sulfate and RBCs was analyzed using western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. Furthermore, a PbMAP1-knockout parasitic strain was established using the double-crossover method to investigate its pathogenicity in mice. RESULTS The PbMAP1 protein, primarily localized to the P. berghei membrane at the merozoite stage, is involved in binding to heparan sulfate-like receptor on RBC surface of during merozoite invasion. Furthermore, mice immunized with the PbMAP1 protein or passively immunized with sera from PbMAP1-immunized mice exhibited increased immunity against lethal challenge. The PbMAP1-knockout parasite exhibited reduced pathogenicity. CONCLUSIONS PbMAP1 is involved in the binding of P. berghei to heparan sulfate-like receptors on RBC surface during merozoite invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junying Gao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Yiwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China.
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang, 110866, China.
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4
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Rosenkranz M, Fürle K, Hibbert J, Ulmer A, Ali A, Giese T, Blank A, Haefeli WE, Böhnlein E, Lanzer M, Thomson-Luque R. Multifunctional IgG/IgM antibodies and cellular cytotoxicity are elicited by the full-length MSP1 SumayaVac-1 malaria vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:112. [PMID: 37558673 PMCID: PMC10412566 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00701-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Radical control of malaria likely requires a vaccine that targets both the asymptomatic liver stages and the disease-causing blood stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. While substantial progress has been made towards liver stage vaccines, the development of a blood stage vaccine is lagging behind. We have recently conducted a first-in-human clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the recombinant, full-length merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1FL) formulated with GLA-SE as adjuvant. Here, we show that the vaccine, termed SumayaVac-1, elicited both a humoral and cellular immune response as well as a recall T cell memory. The induced IgG and IgM antibodies were able to stimulate various Fc-mediated effector mechanisms associated with protection against malaria, including phagocytosis, release of reactive oxygen species, production of IFN-γ as well as complement activation and fixation. The multifunctional activity of the humoral immune response remained for at least 6 months after vaccination and was comparable to that of naturally acquired anti-MSP1 antibodies from semi-immune adults from Kenya. We further present evidence of SumayaVac-1 eliciting a recallable cellular cytotoxicity by IFN-γ producing CD8+ T cells. Our study revitalizes MSP1FL as a relevant blood stage vaccine candidate and warrants further evaluation of SumayaVac-1 in a phase II efficacy trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micha Rosenkranz
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristin Fürle
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Hibbert
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Ulmer
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arin Ali
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Giese
- Institute for Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antje Blank
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Walter E Haefeli
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Michael Lanzer
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Thomson-Luque
- Center for Infectious Diseases-Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Sumaya-Biotech GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
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5
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Najer A, Blight J, Ducker CB, Gasbarri M, Brown JC, Che J, Høgset H, Saunders C, Ojansivu M, Lu Z, Lin Y, Yeow J, Rifaie-Graham O, Potter M, Tonkin R, Penders J, Doutch JJ, Georgiadou A, Barriga HMG, Holme MN, Cunnington AJ, Bugeon L, Dallman MJ, Barclay WS, Stellacci F, Baum J, Stevens MM. Potent Virustatic Polymer-Lipid Nanomimics Block Viral Entry and Inhibit Malaria Parasites In Vivo. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2022; 8:1238-1257. [PMID: 36188342 PMCID: PMC9092191 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c01368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases continue to pose a substantial burden on global populations, requiring innovative broad-spectrum prophylactic and treatment alternatives. Here, we have designed modular synthetic polymer nanoparticles that mimic functional components of host cell membranes, yielding multivalent nanomimics that act by directly binding to varied pathogens. Nanomimic blood circulation time was prolonged by reformulating polymer-lipid hybrids. Femtomolar concentrations of the polymer nanomimics were sufficient to inhibit herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) entry into epithelial cells, while higher doses were needed against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Given their observed virustatic mode of action, the nanomimics were also tested with malaria parasite blood-stage merozoites, which lose their invasive capacity after a few minutes. Efficient inhibition of merozoite invasion of red blood cells was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo using a preclinical rodent malaria model. We envision these nanomimics forming an adaptable platform for developing pathogen entry inhibitors and as immunomodulators, wherein nanomimic-inhibited pathogens can be secondarily targeted to sites of immune recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Najer
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Joshua Blight
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | | | - Matteo Gasbarri
- Institute
of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan C. Brown
- Department
of Infectious Disease, Imperial College
London, London, W2 1PG, U.K.
| | - Junyi Che
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Håkon Høgset
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Catherine Saunders
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Miina Ojansivu
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zixuan Lu
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Yiyang Lin
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Jonathan Yeow
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Omar Rifaie-Graham
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Michael Potter
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Renée Tonkin
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Jelle Penders
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - James J. Doutch
- Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory, ISIS Neutron and Muon
Source, STFC, Didcot OX11 ODE, U.K.
| | - Athina Georgiadou
- Department
of Infectious Disease, Imperial College
London, London, W2 1PG, U.K.
| | - Hanna M. G. Barriga
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margaret N. Holme
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Laurence Bugeon
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | | | - Wendy S. Barclay
- Department
of Infectious Disease, Imperial College
London, London, W2 1PG, U.K.
| | - Francesco Stellacci
- Institute
of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute
of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jake Baum
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Piao X, Ma Y, Liu S, Hou N, Chen Q. A Novel Thioredoxin-Like Protein of Babesia microti Involved in Parasite Pathogenicity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:826818. [PMID: 35252036 PMCID: PMC8892138 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.826818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis poses a serious threat to immunocompromised individuals and the major etiological species of Babesia for human babesiosis is Babesia microti. Merozoites are a critical stage in the life cycle of Babesia microti. Several merozoite proteins have been demonstrated to play important roles in this process; however, most of the merozoite proteins of B. microti remain unknown. In the present study, we identified a novel merozoite protein of B. microti with similar structure to the thioredoxin (Trx)-like domain of the Trx family, which was named as B. microti Trx-like protein (BmTLP). Western blot assays demonstrated that this protein was expressed by B. microti during the erythrocytic infection process, and its expression peaked on day 7 post-infection in vivo. Immunofluorescence assay further showed that this protein is mainly expressed in B. microti merozoites. BmTLP hold both heparin- and erythrocyte-binding properties, which are critical functions of invasion-related proteins. Immunization with recombinant BmTLP imparted significant protection against B. microti infection in mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the novel merozoite protein, BmTLP, is an important pathogenic molecule of B. microti and may be a possible target for the design of babesiosis control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyu Piao
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Ma
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Hou
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Hou, ; Qijun Chen,
| | - Qijun Chen
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Hou, ; Qijun Chen,
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7
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Goerdeler F, Seeberger PH, Moscovitz O. Unveiling the Sugary Secrets of Plasmodium Parasites. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:712538. [PMID: 34335547 PMCID: PMC8322443 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.712538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria disease, one of the leading global health burdens for humanity, infecting hundreds of millions of people each year. Different glycans on the parasite and the host cell surface play significant roles in both malaria pathogenesis and host defense mechanisms. So far, only small, truncated N- and O-glycans have been identified in Plasmodium species. In contrast, complex glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycolipids are highly abundant on the parasite’s cell membrane and are essential for its survival. Moreover, the parasites express lectins that bind and exploit the host cell surface glycans for different aspects of the parasite life cycle, such as adherence, invasion, and evasion of the host immune system. In parallel, the host cell glycocalyx and lectin expression serve as the first line of defense against Plasmodium parasites and directly dictate susceptibility to Plasmodium infection. This review provides an overview of the glycobiology involved in Plasmodium-host interactions and its contribution to malaria pathogenesis. Recent findings are presented and evaluated in the context of potential therapeutic exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Goerdeler
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter H Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oren Moscovitz
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
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8
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Cai YC, Yang CL, Hu W, Song P, Xu B, Lu Y, Ai L, Chu YH, Chen MX, Chen JX, Chen SH. Molecular Characterization and Immunological Evaluation of Truncated Babesia microti Rhoptry Neck Protein 2 as a Vaccine Candidate. Front Immunol 2021; 12:616343. [PMID: 33717108 PMCID: PMC7943735 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.616343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia microti is a protozoan that infects red blood cells. Babesiosis is becoming a new global threat impacting human health. Rhoptry neck proteins (RONs) are proteins located at the neck of the rhoptry and studies indicate that these proteins play an important role in the process of red blood cell invasion. In the present study, we report on the bioinformatic analysis, cloning, and recombinant gene expression of two truncated rhoptry neck proteins 2 (BmRON2), as well as their potential for incorporation in a candidate vaccine for babesiosis. Western blot and immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assays were performed to detect the presence of specific antibodies against BmRON2 in infected mice and the localization of N-BmRON2 in B. microti parasites. In vitro experiments were carried out to investigate the role of BmRON2 proteins during the B. microti invasion process and in vivo experiments to investigate immunoprotection. Homologous sequence alignment and molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that BmRON2 showed similarities with RON2 proteins of other Babesia species. We expressed the truncated N-terminal (33-336 aa, designated rN-BmRON2) and C-terminal (915-1171 aa, designated rC-BmRON2) fragments of the BmRON2 protein, with molecular weights of 70 and 29 kDa, respectively. Western blot assays showed that the native BmRON2 protein is approximately 170 kDa, and that rN-BmRON2 was recognized by serum of mice experimentally infected with B. microti. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that the BmRON2 protein was located at the apical end of merozoites, at the opposite end of the nucleus. In vitro red blood cell invasion inhibition studies with B. microti rBmRON2 proteins showed that relative invasion rate of rN-BmRON2 and rC-BmRON2 group is 45 and 56%, respectively. Analysis of the host immune response after immunization and B. microti infection showed that both rN-BmRON2 and rC-BmRON2 enhanced the immune response, but that rN-BmRON2 conferred better protection than rC-BmRON2. In conclusion, our results indicate that truncated rhoptry neck protein 2, especially its N-terminal fragment (rN-BmRON2), plays an important role in the invasion of host red blood cells, confers immune protection, and shows good potential as a candidate vaccine against babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu chun Cai
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun li Yang
- Department of Clinical Research, The 903rd Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Hu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Song
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Lu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Ai
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan hong Chu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Mu xin Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia xu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shao hong Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Public Health, Shanghai, China
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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9
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Xing M, Yang N, Jiang N, Wang D, Sang X, Feng Y, Chen R, Wang X, Chen Q. A Sialic Acid-Binding Protein SABP1 of Toxoplasma gondii Mediates Host Cell Attachment and Invasion. J Infect Dis 2021; 222:126-135. [PMID: 32060530 PMCID: PMC7296849 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasites have adapted a distinct invasion mechanism involving a close interaction between the parasite ligands and the sialic acid (SA) receptor. We found that sialic acid binding protein-1 (SABP1), localized on the outer membrane of the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, readily binds to sialic acid on the host cell surface. The binding was sensitive to neuraminidase treatment. Cells preincubated with recombinant SABP1 protein resisted parasite invasion in vitro. The parasite lost its invasion capacity and animal infectivity after the SABP1 gene was deleted, whereas complementation of the SABP1 gene restored the virulence of the knockout strain. These data establish the critical role of SABP1 in the invasion process of T. gondii. The previously uncharacterized protein, SABP1, facilitated T. gondii attachment and invasion via sialic acid receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengen Xing
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- College of Basic Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
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10
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Gómez Toledo A, Sorrentino JT, Sandoval DR, Malmström J, Lewis NE, Esko JD. A Systems View of the Heparan Sulfate Interactome. J Histochem Cytochem 2021; 69:105-119. [PMID: 33494649 PMCID: PMC7841697 DOI: 10.1369/0022155420988661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans consist of a small family of proteins decorated with one or more covalently attached heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains. These chains have intricate structural patterns based on the position of sulfate groups and uronic acid epimers, which dictate their ability to engage a large repertoire of heparan sulfate-binding proteins, including extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and morphogens, cytokines and chemokines, apolipoproteins and lipases, adhesion and growth factor receptors, and components of the complement and coagulation system. This review highlights recent progress in the characterization of the so-called "heparan sulfate interactome," with a major focus on systems-wide strategies as a tool for discovery and characterization of this subproteome. In addition, we compiled all heparan sulfate-binding proteins reported in the literature to date and grouped them into a few major functional classes by applying a networking approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Gómez Toledo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - James T Sorrentino
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Daniel R Sandoval
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Johan Malmström
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nathan E Lewis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jeffrey D Esko
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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11
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Kumar V, Rumaisha, Behl A, Munjal A, Abid M, Singh S. Prefoldin subunit 6 of Plasmodium falciparum binds merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1). FEBS Open Bio 2020; 12:1050-1060. [PMID: 33145997 PMCID: PMC9063436 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a human disease caused by eukaryotic protozoan parasites of the Plasmodium genus. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) causes the most lethal form of human malaria and is responsible for widespread mortality worldwide. Prefoldin is a heterohexameric molecular complex that binds and delivers unfolded proteins to chaperonin for correct folding. The prefoldin PFD6 is predicted to interact with merozoite surface protein‐1 (MSP‐1), a protein well known to play a pivotal role in erythrocyte binding and invasion by Plasmodium merozoites. We previously found that the P. falciparum (Pf) genome contains six prefoldin genes and a prefoldin‐like gene whose molecular functions are unidentified. Here, we analyzed the expression of PfPFD‐6 during the asexual blood stages of the parasite and investigated its interacting partners. PfPFD‐6 was found to be significantly expressed at the trophozoite and schizont stages. Pull‐down assays suggest PfPFD‐6 interacts with MSP‐1. In silico analysis suggested critical residues involved in the PfPFD‐6‐MSP‐1 interaction. Our data suggest PfPFD‐6 may play a role in stabilizing or trafficking MSP‐1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikash Kumar
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Rumaisha
- Medicinal Chemistry laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankita Behl
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Akshay Munjal
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Abid
- Medicinal Chemistry laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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12
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Joffrin AM, Hsieh-Wilson LC. Photoaffinity Probes for the Identification of Sequence-Specific Glycosaminoglycan-Binding Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:13672-13676. [PMID: 32786811 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c06046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-protein interactions mediate critical physiological and pathological processes, such as neuronal plasticity, development, and viral invasion. However, mapping GAG-protein interaction networks is challenging as these interactions often require specific GAG sulfation patterns and involve transmembrane receptors or extracellular matrix-associated proteins. Here, we report the first GAG polysaccharide-based photoaffinity probes for the system-wide identification of GAG-binding proteins in living cells. A general platform for the modular, efficient assembly of various chondroitin sulfate (CS)-based photoaffinity probes was developed. Systematic evaluations led to benzophenone-containing probes that efficiently and selectively captured known CS-E-binding proteins in vitro and in cells. Importantly, the probes also enabled the identification of >50 new proteins from living neurons that interact with the neuroplasticity-relevant CS-E sulfation motif. Several candidates were independently validated and included membrane receptors important for axon guidance, innate immunity, synapse development, and synaptic plasticity. Overall, our studies provide a powerful approach for mapping GAG-protein interaction networks, revealing new potential functions for these polysaccharides and linking them to diseases such as Alzheimer's and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie M Joffrin
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Linda C Hsieh-Wilson
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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13
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Immunization with full-length Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 is safe and elicits functional cytophilic antibodies in a randomized first-in-human trial. NPJ Vaccines 2020; 5:10. [PMID: 32025341 PMCID: PMC6994672 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-0160-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A vaccine remains a priority in the global fight against malaria. Here, we report on a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo and adjuvant-controlled, dose escalation phase 1a safety and immunogenicity clinical trial of full-length Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) in combination with GLA-SE adjuvant. Thirty-two healthy volunteers were vaccinated at least three times with MSP1 plus adjuvant, adjuvant alone, or placebo (24:4:4) to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity. MSP1 was safe, well tolerated and immunogenic, with all vaccinees sero-converting independent of the dose. The MSP1-specific IgG and IgM titers persisted above levels found in malaria semi-immune humans for at least 6 months after the last immunization. The antibodies were variant- and strain-transcending and stimulated respiratory activity in granulocytes. Furthermore, full-length MSP1 induced memory T-cells. Our findings encourage challenge studies as the next step to evaluate the efficacy of full-length MSP1 as a vaccine candidate against falciparum malaria (EudraCT 2016-002463-33).
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14
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Bastos MF, Albrecht L, Gomes AM, Lopes SC, Vicente CP, de Almeida RP, Cassiano GC, Fonseca RJ, Werneck CC, Pavão MS, Costa FT. A new heparan sulfate from the mollusk Nodipecten nodosus inhibits merozoite invasion and disrupts rosetting and cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e190088. [PMID: 31188952 PMCID: PMC6555591 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite treatment with effective antimalarial drugs, the mortality rate is
still high in severe cases of the disease, highlighting the need to find
adjunct therapies that can inhibit the adhesion of Plasmodium
falciparum-infected erythrocytes (Pf-iEs). OBJECTIVES In this context, we evaluated a new heparan sulfate (HS) from
Nodipecten nodosus for antimalarial activity and
inhibition of P. falciparum cytoadhesion and rosetting. METHODS Parasite inhibition was measured by SYBR green using a cytometer. HS was
assessed in rosetting and cytoadhesion assays under static and flow
conditions using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human lymphatic endothelial
cell (HLEC) cells expressing intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) and
chondroitin sulfate A (CSA), respectively. FINDINGS This HS inhibited merozoite invasion similar to heparin. Moreover, mollusk
HS decreased cytoadherence of P. falciparum to CSA and
ICAM-1 on the surface of endothelial cells under static and flow conditions.
In addition, this glycan efficiently disrupted rosettes. CONCLUSIONS These findings support a potential use for mollusk HS as adjunct therapy for
severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcele F Bastos
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Laboratório de Doenças Tropicais, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | - Letusa Albrecht
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | - Angélica M Gomes
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Stefanie Cp Lopes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Cristina P Vicente
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Gustavo C Cassiano
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Laboratório de Doenças Tropicais, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | - Roberto Jc Fonseca
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Laboratório de Tecido Conjuntivo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Claudio C Werneck
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | - Mauro Sg Pavão
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Programa de Glicobiologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Fabio Tm Costa
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Laboratório de Doenças Tropicais, Campinas, SP, Brasil
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15
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Swearingen KE, Lindner SE. Plasmodium Parasites Viewed through Proteomics. Trends Parasitol 2018; 34:945-960. [PMID: 30146456 PMCID: PMC6204299 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Early sequencing efforts that produced the genomes of several species of malaria parasites (Plasmodium genus) propelled transcriptomic and proteomic efforts. In this review, we focus upon some of the exciting proteomic advances from studies of Plasmodium parasites over approximately the past decade. With improvements to both instrumentation and data-processing capabilities, long-standing questions about the forms and functions of these important pathogens are rapidly being answered. In particular, global and subcellular proteomics, quantitative proteomics, and the detection of post-translational modifications have all revealed important features of the parasite's regulatory mechanisms. Finally, we provide our perspectives on future applications of proteomics to Plasmodium research, as well as suggestions for further improvement through standardization of data deposition, analysis, and accessibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian E Swearingen
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Scott E Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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16
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A Thioredoxin Homologous Protein of Plasmodium falciparum Participates in Erythrocyte Invasion. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00289-18. [PMID: 29844242 PMCID: PMC6056854 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00289-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites is required in the life cycle of malarial parasites. Proteins derived from the invasive merozoites are essential ligands for erythrocyte recognition and penetration. Invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites is required in the life cycle of malarial parasites. Proteins derived from the invasive merozoites are essential ligands for erythrocyte recognition and penetration. In this study, we report a novel protein that possesses a Trx domain-like structure of the thioredoxin family and is expressed on the surface of merozoites of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This protein, namely, PfTrx-mero protein, displayed a mutated sequence character at the Trx domain, but with a specific binding activity to human erythrocytes. Specific antibodies to the protein inhibited merozoite invasion into human erythrocytes. Immunization with a homologous protein of Plasmodium berghei strain ANKA also showed significant protection against lethal infection in mice. These results suggested that the novel PfTrx-like-mero protein expressed on the surface of merozoites is an important ligand participating in erythrocyte invasion and a potential vaccine candidate.
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17
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Leitgeb AM, Charunwatthana P, Rueangveerayut R, Uthaisin C, Silamut K, Chotivanich K, Sila P, Moll K, Lee SJ, Lindgren M, Holmer E, Färnert A, Kiwuwa MS, Kristensen J, Herder C, Tarning J, Wahlgren M, Dondorp AM. Inhibition of merozoite invasion and transient de-sequestration by sevuparin in humans with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188754. [PMID: 29244851 PMCID: PMC5731734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
SEVERE MALARIA Even with the best available treatment, the mortality from severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains high. Typical features at death are high parasite loads and obstructed micro- vasculature. Infected erythrocytes (IE) containing mature parasites bind to the host receptor heparan sulfate, which is also an important receptor for merozoite invasion. To block merozoite invasion has not previously been proposed as an adjunctive therapeutic approach but it may preclude the early expansion of an infection that else leads to exacerbated sequestration and death. SEVUPARIN IN PHASE I STUDY The drug sevuparin was developed from heparin because heparan sulfate and heparin are nearly identical, so the rationale was that sevuparin would act as a decoy receptor during malaria infection. A phase I study was performed in healthy male volunteers and sevuparin was found safe and well tolerated. SEVUPARIN IN PHASE I/II CLINICAL STUDY A phase I/II clinical study was performed in which sevuparin was administered via short intravenous infusions to malaria patients with uncomplicated malaria who were also receiving atovaquone/proguanil treatment. This was a Phase I/II, randomized, open label, active control, parallel assignment study. Sevuparin was safe and well tolerated in the malaria patients. The mean relative numbers of ring-stage IEs decreased after a single sevuparin infusion and mature parasite IEs appeared transiently in the circulation. The effects observed on numbers of merozoites and throphozoites in the circulation, were detected already one hour after the first sevuparin injection. Here we report the development of a candidate drug named sevuparin that both blocks merozoite invasion and transiently de-sequesters IE in humans with P. falciparum malaria. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01442168.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kamolrat Silamut
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Kirsten Moll
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor- and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sue J. Lee
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Anna Färnert
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital and Department Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mpungu S. Kiwuwa
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, and Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Joel Tarning
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mats Wahlgren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor- and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arjen M. Dondorp
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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18
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Takemae H, Kobayashi K, Sugi T, Han Y, Gong H, Ishiwa A, Recuenco FC, Murakoshi F, Takano R, Murata Y, Nagamune K, Horimoto T, Akashi H, Kato K. Toxoplasma gondii RON4 binds to heparan sulfate on the host cell surface. Parasitol Int 2017; 67:123-130. [PMID: 29081389 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry neck protein 4 (TgRON4) is a component of the moving junction, a key structure for host cell invasion. We previously showed that host cellular β-tubulin is a binding partner of TgRON4 in the invasion process. Here, to identify other binding partners of TgRON4 in the host cell, we examined the binding of TgRON4 to components of the host cell surface. TgRON4 binds to various mammalian cells, but this binding disappeared in glycosaminoglycan- and heparan sulfate-deficient CHO cells and after heparitinase treatment of mammalian cells. The C-terminal half of TgRON4 showed relatively strong binding to cells and heparin agarose. A glycoarray assay indicated that TgRON4 binds to heparin and modified heparin derivatives. Immunoprecipitation of T. gondii-infected CHO cell lysates showed that TgRON4 interacts with glypican 1 during Toxoplasma invasion. This interaction suggests a role for heparan sulfate in parasite invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Takemae
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kyousuke Kobayashi
- Neurovirology Project, Department of Genome Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Sugi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yongmei Han
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Haiyan Gong
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Ishiwa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Frances C Recuenco
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumi Murakoshi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Takano
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuho Murata
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kisaburo Nagamune
- Division of Protozoology, Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taisuke Horimoto
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroomi Akashi
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Kato
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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19
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Glushakova S, Busse BL, Garten M, Beck JR, Fairhurst RM, Goldberg DE, Zimmerberg J. Exploitation of a newly-identified entry pathway into the malaria parasite-infected erythrocyte to inhibit parasite egress. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12250. [PMID: 28947749 PMCID: PMC5612957 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12258-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
While many parasites develop within host cells to avoid antibody responses and to utilize host cytoplasmic resources, elaborate egress processes have evolved to minimize the time between escaping and invading the next cell. In human erythrocytes, malaria parasites perforate their enclosing erythrocyte membrane shortly before egress. Here, we show that these pores clearly function as an entry pathway into infected erythrocytes for compounds that inhibit parasite egress. The natural glycosaminoglycan heparin surprisingly inhibited malaria parasite egress, trapping merozoites within infected erythrocytes. Labeled heparin neither bound to nor translocated through the intact erythrocyte membrane during parasite development, but fluxed into erythrocytes at the last minute of the parasite lifecycle. This short encounter was sufficient to significantly inhibit parasite egress and dispersion. Heparin blocks egress by interacting with both the surface of intra-erythrocytic merozoites and the inner aspect of erythrocyte membranes, preventing the rupture of infected erythrocytes but not parasitophorous vacuoles, and independently interfering with merozoite disaggregation. Since this action of heparin recapitulates that of neutralizing antibodies, membrane perforation presents a brief opportunity for a new strategy to inhibit parasite egress and replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Glushakova
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Brad L Busse
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Matthias Garten
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Josh R Beck
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Rick M Fairhurst
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Joshua Zimmerberg
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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20
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Das S, Hertrich N, Perrin AJ, Withers-Martinez C, Collins CR, Jones ML, Watermeyer JM, Fobes ET, Martin SR, Saibil HR, Wright GJ, Treeck M, Epp C, Blackman MJ. Processing of Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein MSP1 Activates a Spectrin-Binding Function Enabling Parasite Egress from RBCs. Cell Host Microbe 2016; 18:433-44. [PMID: 26468747 PMCID: PMC4608996 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum replicates within erythrocytes, producing progeny merozoites that are released from infected cells via a poorly understood process called egress. The most abundant merozoite surface protein, MSP1, is synthesized as a large precursor that undergoes proteolytic maturation by the parasite protease SUB1 just prior to egress. The function of MSP1 and its processing are unknown. Here we show that SUB1-mediated processing of MSP1 is important for parasite viability. Processing modifies the secondary structure of MSP1 and activates its capacity to bind spectrin, a molecular scaffold protein that is the major component of the host erythrocyte cytoskeleton. Parasites expressing an inefficiently processed MSP1 mutant show delayed egress, and merozoites lacking surface-bound MSP1 display a severe egress defect. Our results indicate that interactions between SUB1-processed merozoite surface MSP1 and the spectrin network of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton facilitate host erythrocyte rupture to enable parasite egress. Merozoite surface protein MSP1 processing is important for P. falciparum viability Proteolytic processing activates MSP1’s heparin and spectrin-binding functions The rate of MSP1 processing governs the kinetics of parasite egress Loss of parasite surface MSP1 results in a severe egress defect
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujaan Das
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Nadine Hertrich
- Department für Infektiologie, Parasitologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Abigail J Perrin
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1HH, UK
| | | | - Christine R Collins
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Matthew L Jones
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Jean M Watermeyer
- Department of Crystallography, Birkbeck College, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Elmar T Fobes
- Department für Infektiologie, Parasitologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephen R Martin
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Helen R Saibil
- Department of Crystallography, Birkbeck College, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Gavin J Wright
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1HH, UK
| | - Moritz Treeck
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Christian Epp
- Department für Infektiologie, Parasitologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael J Blackman
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK; Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
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21
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Marine organism sulfated polysaccharides exhibiting significant antimalarial activity and inhibition of red blood cell invasion by Plasmodium. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24368. [PMID: 27071342 PMCID: PMC4829872 DOI: 10.1038/srep24368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The antimalarial activity of heparin, against which there are no resistances known, has not been therapeutically exploited due to its potent anticoagulating activity. Here, we have explored the antiplasmodial capacity of heparin-like sulfated polysaccharides from the sea cucumbers Ludwigothurea grisea and Isostichopus badionotus, from the red alga Botryocladia occidentalis, and from the marine sponge Desmapsamma anchorata. In vitro experiments demonstrated for most compounds significant inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth at low-anticoagulant concentrations. This activity was found to operate through inhibition of erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium, likely mediated by a coating of the parasite similar to that observed for heparin. In vivo four-day suppressive tests showed that several of the sulfated polysaccharides improved the survival of Plasmodium yoelii-infected mice. In one animal treated with I. badionotus fucan parasitemia was reduced from 10.4% to undetectable levels, and Western blot analysis revealed the presence of antibodies against P. yoelii antigens in its plasma. The retarded invasion mediated by sulfated polysaccharides, and the ensuing prolonged exposure of Plasmodium to the immune system, can be explored for the design of new therapeutic approaches against malaria where heparin-related polysaccharides of low anticoagulating activity could play a dual role as drugs and as potentiators of immune responses.
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22
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Fernàndez-Busquets X. Novel strategies for Plasmodium-targeted drug delivery. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2016; 13:919-22. [DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2016.1167038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
- Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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23
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Najer A, Thamboo S, Duskey JT, Palivan CG, Beck HP, Meier W. Analysis of Molecular Parameters Determining the Antimalarial Activity of Polymer-Based Nanomimics. Macromol Rapid Commun 2015; 36:1923-1928. [PMID: 29971878 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201500267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Malaria and other infectious diseases are major global public health problems, which need to be tackled using new technologies to cope with the lack of efficacious vaccines and emerging drug resistance. A recently developed anti-infectious concept based on nanomimics tested with Plasmodium falciparum is analyzed for the molecular parameters determining its applicability. Nanomimics-nanoscaled polymer-based mimics of host cell membranes-are designed with a reduced number of surface-exposed malaria parasite receptor molecules (heparin), resulting in less potent invasion inhibition as determined in antimalarial assays. In contrast, when shorter receptor molecules are used to form nanomimics, more molecules are needed to obtain nanomimic potency similar to nanomimics with longer receptor molecules. The interaction of heparin on nanomimics with the processed Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1-42 (PfMSP142 ) have a high affinity, Kd = 12.1 ± 1.6 × 10-9 m, as measured by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS). This detailed characterization of nanomimics and their molecular variants are an important step towards defining and optimizing possible nanomimic therapies for infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Najer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sagana Thamboo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jason T Duskey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia G Palivan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter Beck
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Petersgraben 2, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Meier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
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24
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Non-immune immunoglobulins shield Schistosoma japonicum from host immunorecognition. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13434. [PMID: 26299686 PMCID: PMC4547136 DOI: 10.1038/srep13434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a major human parasitic disease with a global impact. Schistosoma japonicum, the most difficult to control, can survive within host veins for decades. Mechanisms of immune evasion by the parasite, including antigenic variation and surface masking, have been implicated but not well defined. In this study, we defined the immunoglobulin-binding proteomes of S. japonicum using human IgG, IgM, and IgE as the molecular bait for affinity purification, followed by protein identification by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Several proteins situated at the tegument of S. japonicum were able to nonselectively bind to the Fc domain of host immunoglobulins, indicating a mechanism for the avoidance of host immune attachment and recognition. The profile of the immunoglobulin-binding proteomes provides further clues for immune evasion mechanisms adopted by S. japonicum.
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25
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Crick AJ, Theron M, Tiffert T, Lew VL, Cicuta P, Rayner JC. Quantitation of malaria parasite-erythrocyte cell-cell interactions using optical tweezers. Biophys J 2015; 107:846-53. [PMID: 25140419 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Revised: 06/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites is an essential step for parasite survival and hence the pathogenesis of malaria. Invasion has been studied intensively, but our cellular understanding has been limited by the fact that it occurs very rapidly: invasion is generally complete within 1 min, and shortly thereafter the merozoites, at least in in vitro culture, lose their invasive capacity. The rapid nature of the process, and hence the narrow time window in which measurements can be taken, have limited the tools available to quantitate invasion. Here we employ optical tweezers to study individual invasion events for what we believe is the first time, showing that newly released P. falciparum merozoites, delivered via optical tweezers to a target erythrocyte, retain their ability to invade. Even spent merozoites, which had lost the ability to invade, retain the ability to adhere to erythrocytes, and furthermore can still induce transient local membrane deformations in the erythrocyte membrane. We use this technology to measure the strength of the adhesive force between merozoites and erythrocytes, and to probe the cellular mode of action of known invasion inhibitory treatments. These data add to our understanding of the erythrocyte-merozoite interactions that occur during invasion, and demonstrate the power of optical tweezers technologies in unraveling the blood-stage biology of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J Crick
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Theron
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Tiffert
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Virgilio L Lew
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Pietro Cicuta
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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26
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Zhao X, Chang Z, Tu Z, Yu S, Wei X, Zhou J, Lu H, Jiang N, Chen Q. PfRON3 is an erythrocyte-binding protein and a potential blood-stage vaccine candidate antigen. Malar J 2014; 13:490. [PMID: 25495792 PMCID: PMC4295329 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Erythrocyte invasion by merozoites is an essential step in Plasmodium falciparum infection and leads to subsequent disease pathology. Proteins both on the merozoite surface and secreted from the apical organelles (micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules) mediate the invasion of erythrocytes; some of the molecules have been regarded as targets in the development of an anti-malaria vaccine. Recently, a subgroup of rhoptry neck proteins (PfRON2, PfRON4 and PfRON5) associated with the microneme protein apical membrane antigen AMA1 has been described as components of the moving junction complex that assists merozoite invasion into erythrocytes. However, unlike PfRON2, PfRON4 and PfRON5, the latest study suggested that PfRON3 might be located in the rhoptry bulb and participates in a novel PfRON complex (PfRON2, 3 and 4), but does not form a complex with AMA1. Additionally, the full-length PfRON3 protein possesses three transmembrane regions at the N-terminus, which is highly conserved among RON3 orthologues in the genus Plasmodium, Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria tenella. Overall, these findings suggest that PfRON3 may play an important role in merozoite invasion into erythrocytes. Results PfRON3 was primarily expressed during the late trophozoite stage, with a peak in transcription levels at 40 hours post-invasion. The subcellular localization of PfRON3 was confirmed that it is a merozoite rhoptry bulb protein. Additionally, the recombinant form of PfRON3 protein bound to the erythrocyte and was recognized by sera collected from malaria endemic areas in Africa, and anti-PfRON3 antibodies significantly inhibited merozoite invasion into erythrocytes. Methods The expression of PfRON3 was analysed via real-time quantitative PCR, and the recombinant PfRON3 proteins were generated with an Escherichia coli expression system. The subcellular localization of PfRON3 was assessed with immunoelectron microscopy and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The recognition PfRON3 by malaria immune sera was analysed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Erythrocyte-binding assays were performed using recombinant PfRON3 proteins and invasion inhibition assays were carried out with PfRON3-specific antibodies. Conclusion This study confirmed that PfRON3 is a rhoptry protein with an erythrocyte-binding property, which is likely associated red blood cell invasion. PfRON3 is a potential vaccine candidate. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1475-2875-13-490) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Xi An Da Lu 5333, Changchun 5333, China.
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Marques J, Moles E, Urbán P, Prohens R, Busquets MA, Sevrin C, Grandfils C, Fernàndez-Busquets X. Application of heparin as a dual agent with antimalarial and liposome targeting activities toward Plasmodium-infected red blood cells. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2014; 10:1719-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2014.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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28
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Zhang Y, Jiang N, Jia B, Chang Z, Zhang Y, Wei X, Zhou J, Wang H, Zhao X, Yu S, Song M, Tu Z, Lu H, Yin J, Wahlgren M, Chen Q. A comparative study on the heparin-binding proteomes of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum. Proteomics 2014; 14:1737-45. [PMID: 24888565 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201400003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular apicomplexan parasite which exploits host cell surface components in cell invasion and intracellular parasitization. Sulfated glycans such as heparin and heparan sulfate have been reported to inhibit cell invasion by T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum. The aim of this study was to investigate the heparin-binding proteome of T. gondii. The parasite-derived components were affinity-purified on the heparin moiety followed by MS fingerprinting of the proteins. The heparin-binding proteins of T. gondii and P. falciparum were compared based on functionality and affinity to heparin. Among the proteins identified, the invasion-related parasite ligands derived from tachyzoite/merozoite surface and the secretory organelles were prominent. However, the profiles of the proteins were different in terms of affinity to heparin. In T. gondii, the proteins with highest affinity to heparin were the intracellular components with functions of parasite development contrasted to that of P. falciparum, of which the rhoptry-derived proteins were prominently identified. The profiling of the heparin-binding proteins of the two apicomplexan parasites not only explained the mechanism of heparin-mediated host cell invasion inhibition, but also, to a certain extent, revealed that the action of heparin on the parasite extended after endocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Institute of Military Veterinary, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, P. R. China
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Gellan sulfate inhibits Plasmodium falciparum growth and invasion of red blood cells in vitro. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4723. [PMID: 24740150 PMCID: PMC3989555 DOI: 10.1038/srep04723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we assessed the sulfated derivative of the microbial polysaccharide gellan gum and derivatives of λ and κ-carrageenans for their ability to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 and Dd2 growth and invasion of red blood cells in vitro. Growth inhibition was assessed by means of flow cytometry after a 96-h exposure to the inhibitors and invasion inhibition was assessed by counting ring parasites after a 20-h exposure to them. Gellan sulfate strongly inhibited invasion and modestly inhibited growth for both P. falciparum 3D7 and Dd2; both inhibitory effects exceeded those achieved with native gellan gum. The hydrolyzed λ-carrageenan and oversulfated κ-carrageenan were less inhibitory than their native forms. In vitro cytotoxicity and anticoagulation assays performed to determine the suitability of the modified polysaccharides for in vivo studies showed that our synthesized gellan sulfate had low cytotoxicity and anticoagulant activity.
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