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Bauer M, Ermolaeva M, Singer M, Wetzker R, Soares MP. Hormesis as an adaptive response to infection. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:633-641. [PMID: 38744580 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Hormesis is a phenomenon whereby low-level stress can improve cellular, organ, or organismal fitness in response to a subsequent similar or other stress insult. Whereas hormesis is thought to contribute to the fitness benefits arising from symbiotic host-microbe interactions, the putative benefits of hormesis in host-pathogen interactions have yet to be explored. Hormetic responses have nonetheless been reported in experimental models of infection, a common feature of which is regulation of host mitochondrial function. We propose that these mitohormetic responses could be harnessed therapeutically to limit the severity of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
| | - Maria Ermolaeva
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Mervyn Singer
- Bloomsbury Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Reinhard Wetzker
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Miguel P Soares
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
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2
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Diffendall G, Claes A, Barcons-Simon A, Nyarko P, Dingli F, Santos MM, Loew D, Claessens A, Scherf A. RNA polymerase III is involved in regulating Plasmodium falciparum virulence. eLife 2024; 13:RP95879. [PMID: 38921824 PMCID: PMC11208047 DOI: 10.7554/elife.95879] [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] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
While often undetected and untreated, persistent seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections remain a global public health problem. Despite the presence of parasites in the peripheral blood, no symptoms develop. Disease severity is correlated with the levels of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) adhering within blood vessels. Changes in iRBC adhesion capacity have been linked to seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections, however how this is occurring is still unknown. Here, we present evidence that RNA polymerase III (RNA Pol III) transcription in Plasmodium falciparum is downregulated in field isolates obtained from asymptomatic individuals during the dry season. Through experiments with in vitro cultured parasites, we have uncovered an RNA Pol III-dependent mechanism that controls pathogen proliferation and expression of a major virulence factor in response to external stimuli. Our findings establish a connection between P. falciparum cytoadhesion and a non-coding RNA family transcribed by Pol III. Additionally, we have identified P. falciparum Maf1 as a pivotal regulator of Pol III transcription, both for maintaining cellular homeostasis and for responding adaptively to external signals. These results introduce a novel perspective that contributes to our understanding of P. falciparum virulence. Furthermore, they establish a connection between this regulatory process and the occurrence of seasonal asymptomatic malaria infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen Diffendall
- Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris CitéParisFrance
- Institut Pasteur, Sorbonne Université Ecole doctorale Complexité du VivantParisFrance
| | | | - Anna Barcons-Simon
- Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris CitéParisFrance
- Institut Pasteur, Sorbonne Université Ecole doctorale Complexité du VivantParisFrance
- Institut Pasteur, Biomedical Center, Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenMunichGermany
| | - Prince Nyarko
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratory of Pathogen-Host Interaction (LPHI), CNRS, University of MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Florent Dingli
- Institut Pasteur, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Centre de Recherche, CurieCoreTech Mass Spectrometry ProteomicsParisFrance
| | - Miguel M Santos
- Institut Pasteur, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Damarys Loew
- Institut Pasteur, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Centre de Recherche, CurieCoreTech Mass Spectrometry ProteomicsParisFrance
| | - Antoine Claessens
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratory of Pathogen-Host Interaction (LPHI), CNRS, University of MontpellierMontpellierFrance
- Institut Pasteur, LPHI, MIVEGEC, CNRS, INSERM, University of MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Artur Scherf
- Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris CitéParisFrance
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3
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Diffendall G, Scherf A. Deciphering the Plasmodium falciparum perinuclear var gene expression site. Trends Parasitol 2024:S1471-4922(24)00142-9. [PMID: 38910098 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, responsible for the deadliest form of human malaria, employs antigenic variation via monoallelic expression as a key survival strategy. The selective activation of one out of the 60-member var gene family is key to understanding the parasite's ability to cause severe disease and evade the host immune response. var gene activation is initiated by its relocation to a specialized expression site. While the perinuclear expression site (PES) plays a crucial role in enabling the expression of a single allele, the characteristics of this PES remain largely obscure. Recent breakthroughs in genome editing tools and the discovery of regulatory noncoding RNAs have shed light on this intriguing biological feature, offering significant insights into the mechanisms of pathogen virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen Diffendall
- Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, CNRS EMR9195, Paris, France
| | - Artur Scherf
- Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, CNRS EMR9195, Paris, France.
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4
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Gao L, Yang W, Wang J. Implications of mosquito metabolism on vector competence. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:674-682. [PMID: 37907431 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13288] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) annually kill nearly half a million people. Due to the lack of effective vaccines and drugs on most MBDs, disease prevention relies primarily on controlling mosquitoes. Despite huge efforts having been put into mosquito control, eco-friendly and sustainable mosquito-control strategies are still lacking and urgently demanded. Most mosquito-transmitted pathogens have lost the capacity of de novo nutrition biosynthesis, and rely on their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts for sustenance during the long-term obligate parasitism process. Therefore, a better understanding of the metabolic interactions between mosquitoes and pathogens will contribute to the discovery of novel metabolic targets or regulators that lead to reduced mosquito populations or vector competence. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the effects of mosquito metabolism on the transmission of multiple pathogens. We also discuss that research in this area remains to be explored to develop multiple biological prevention and control strategies for MBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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5
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Yang X, Yang J, Lyu M, Li Y, Liu A, Shen B. The α subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase is critical for the metabolic success and tachyzoite proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14455. [PMID: 38635138 PMCID: PMC11025617 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite infecting humans and nearly all warm-blooded animals. Successful parasitism in diverse hosts at various developmental stages requires the parasites to fine tune their metabolism according to environmental cues and the parasite's needs. By manipulating the β and γ subunits, we have previously shown that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has critical roles in regulating the metabolic and developmental programmes. However, the biological functions of the α catalytic subunit have not been established. T. gondii encodes a canonical AMPKα, as well as a KIN kinase whose kinase domain has high sequence similarities to those of classic AMPKα proteins. Here, we found that TgKIN is dispensable for tachyzoite growth, whereas TgAMPKα is essential. Depletion of TgAMPKα expression resulted in decreased ATP levels and reduced metabolic flux in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, confirming that TgAMPK is involved in metabolic regulation and energy homeostasis in the parasite. Sequential truncations at the C-terminus found an α-helix that is key for the function of TgAMPKα. The amino acid sequences of this α-helix are not conserved among various AMPKα proteins, likely because it is involved in interactions with TgAMPKβ, which only have limited sequence similarities to AMPKβ in other eukaryotes. The essential role of the less conserved C-terminus of TgAMPKα provides opportunities for parasite specific drug designs targeting TgAMPKα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Jichao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Mengyu Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Yaqiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Anqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei ProvinceHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and HealthHuazhong Agricultural UniversityShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
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6
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Ewald S, Nasuhidehnavi A, Feng TY, Lesani M, McCall LI. The intersection of host in vivo metabolism and immune responses to infection with kinetoplastid and apicomplexan parasites. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0016422. [PMID: 38299836 PMCID: PMC10966954 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00164-22] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYProtozoan parasite infection dramatically alters host metabolism, driven by immunological demand and parasite manipulation strategies. Immunometabolic checkpoints are often exploited by kinetoplastid and protozoan parasites to establish chronic infection, which can significantly impair host metabolic homeostasis. The recent growth of tools to analyze metabolism is expanding our understanding of these questions. Here, we review and contrast host metabolic alterations that occur in vivo during infection with Leishmania, trypanosomes, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, and Cryptosporidium. Although genetically divergent, there are commonalities among these pathogens in terms of metabolic needs, induction of the type I immune responses required for clearance, and the potential for sustained host metabolic dysbiosis. Comparing these pathogens provides an opportunity to explore how transmission strategy, nutritional demand, and host cell and tissue tropism drive similarities and unique aspects in host response and infection outcome and to design new strategies to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ewald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Azadeh Nasuhidehnavi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Tzu-Yu Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mahbobeh Lesani
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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7
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Hviid L, Jensen AR, Deitsch KW. PfEMP1 and var genes - Still of key importance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria pathogenesis and immunity. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2024; 125:53-103. [PMID: 39095112 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The most severe form of malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium falciparum parasites, continues to be an important cause of human suffering and poverty. The P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family of clonally variant antigens, which mediates the adhesion of infected erythrocytes to the vascular endothelium in various tissues and organs, is a central component of the pathogenesis of the disease and a key target of the acquired immune response to malaria. Much new knowledge has accumulated since we published a systematic overview of the PfEMP1 family almost ten years ago. In this chapter, we therefore aim to summarize research progress since 2015 on the structure, function, regulation etc. of this key protein family of arguably the most important human parasite. Recent insights regarding PfEMP1-specific immune responses and PfEMP1-specific vaccination against malaria, as well as an outlook for the coming years are also covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Hviid
- Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anja R Jensen
- Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirk W Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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8
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Zhong M, Zhou B. Plasmodium yoelii iron transporter PyDMT1 interacts with host ferritin and is required in full activity for malarial pathogenesis. BMC Biol 2023; 21:279. [PMID: 38049852 PMCID: PMC10696721 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01776-y] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rapid reproduction of malaria parasites requires proper iron uptake. However, the process of iron absorption by parasites is rarely studied. Divalent metal transporter (DMT1) is a critical iron transporter responsible for uptaking iron. A homolog of human DMT1 exists in the malaria parasite genome, which in Plasmodium yoelii is hereafter named PyDMT1. RESULTS PyDMT1 knockout appears to be lethal. Surprisingly, despite dwelling in an iron-rich environment, the parasite cannot afford to lose even partial expression of PyDMT1; PyDMT1 hypomorphs were associated with severe growth defects and quick loss of pathogenicity. Iron supplementation could completely suppress the defect of the PyDMT1 hypomorph during in vitro culturing. Genetic manipulation through host ferritin (Fth1) knockout to increase intracellular iron levels enforced significant growth inhibition in vivo on the normal parasites but not the mutant. In vitro culturing with isolated ferritin knockout mouse erythrocytes completely rescued PyDMT1-hypomorph parasites. CONCLUSION A critical iron requirement of malaria parasites at the blood stage as mediated by this newly identified iron importer PyDMT1, and the iron homeostasis in malarial parasites is finely tuned. Tipping the iron balance between the parasite and host will efficiently kill the pathogenicity of the parasite. Lastly, PyDMT1 hypomorph parasites were less sensitive to the action of artemisinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Zhong
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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9
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Stürmer VS, Stopper S, Binder P, Klemmer A, Lichti NP, Becker NB, Guizetti J. Progeny counter mechanism in malaria parasites is linked to extracellular resources. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011807. [PMID: 38051755 PMCID: PMC10723702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by the rapid proliferation of Plasmodium parasites in patients and disease severity correlates with the number of infected red blood cells in circulation. Parasite multiplication within red blood cells is called schizogony and occurs through an atypical multinucleated cell division mode. The mechanisms regulating the number of daughter cells produced by a single progenitor are poorly understood. We investigated underlying regulatory principles by quantifying nuclear multiplication dynamics in Plasmodium falciparum and knowlesi using super-resolution time-lapse microscopy. This confirmed that the number of daughter cells was consistent with a model in which a counter mechanism regulates multiplication yet incompatible with a timer mechanism. P. falciparum cell volume at the start of nuclear division correlated with the final number of daughter cells. As schizogony progressed, the nucleocytoplasmic volume ratio, which has been found to be constant in all eukaryotes characterized so far, increased significantly, possibly to accommodate the exponentially multiplying nuclei. Depleting nutrients by dilution of culture medium caused parasites to produce fewer merozoites and reduced proliferation but did not affect cell volume or total nuclear volume at the end of schizogony. Our findings suggest that the counter mechanism implicated in malaria parasite proliferation integrates extracellular resource status to modify progeny number during blood stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa S. Stürmer
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophie Stopper
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Binder
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Klemmer
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nicolas P. Lichti
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils B. Becker
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Pandit K, Surolia N, Bhattacharjee S, Karmodiya K. The many paths to artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:1060-1073. [PMID: 37833166 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Emerging resistance against artemisinin (ART) poses a major challenge in controlling malaria. Parasites with mutations in PfKelch13, the major marker for ART resistance, are known to reduce hemoglobin endocytosis, induce unfolded protein response (UPR), elevate phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P) levels, and stimulate autophagy. Nonetheless, PfKelch13-independent resistance is also reported, indicating extensive complementation by reconfiguration in the parasite metabolome and transcriptome. These findings implicate that there may not be a single 'universal identifier' of ART resistance. This review sheds light on the molecular, transcriptional, and metabolic pathways associated with ART resistance, while also highlighting the interplay between cellular heterogeneity, environmental stress, and ART sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kushankur Pandit
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
| | - Namita Surolia
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Souvik Bhattacharjee
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Krishanpal Karmodiya
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India.
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11
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Balau A, Sobral D, Abrantes P, Santos I, Mixão V, Gomes JP, Antunes S, Arez AP. Differential Gene Expression of Malaria Parasite in Response to Red Blood Cell-Specific Glycolytic Intermediate 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16869. [PMID: 38069204 PMCID: PMC10706422 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Innovative strategies to control malaria are urgently needed. Exploring the interplay between Plasmodium sp. parasites and host red blood cells (RBCs) offers opportunities for novel antimalarial interventions. Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD), characterized by heightened 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentration, has been associated with protection against malaria. Elevated levels of 2,3-DPG, a specific mammalian metabolite, may hinder glycolysis, prompting us to hypothesize its potential contribution to PKD-mediated protection. We investigated the impact of the extracellular supplementation of 2,3-DPG on the Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic developmental cycle in vitro. The results showed an inhibition of parasite growth, resulting from significantly fewer progeny from 2,3-DPG-treated parasites. We analyzed differential gene expression and the transcriptomic profile of P. falciparum trophozoites, from in vitro cultures subjected or not subjected to the action of 2,3-DPG, using Nanopore Sequencing Technology. The presence of 2,3-DPG in the culture medium was associated with the significant differential expression of 71 genes, mostly associated with the GO terms nucleic acid binding, transcription or monoatomic anion channel. Further, several genes related to cell cycle control were downregulated in treated parasites. These findings suggest that the presence of this RBC-specific glycolytic metabolite impacts the expression of genes transcribed during the parasite trophozoite stage and the number of merozoites released from individual schizonts, which supports the potential role of 2,3-DPG in the mechanism of protection against malaria by PKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Balau
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.B.); (P.A.); (I.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Daniel Sobral
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (D.S.); (V.M.); (J.P.G.)
| | - Patrícia Abrantes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.B.); (P.A.); (I.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Inês Santos
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.B.); (P.A.); (I.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Verónica Mixão
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (D.S.); (V.M.); (J.P.G.)
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal; (D.S.); (V.M.); (J.P.G.)
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sandra Antunes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.B.); (P.A.); (I.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Ana Paula Arez
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (A.B.); (P.A.); (I.S.); (S.A.)
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12
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Shunmugam S, Quansah N, Flammersfeld A, Islam MM, Sassmannshausen J, Bennink S, Yamaryo-Botté Y, Pradel G, Botté CY. The patatin-like phospholipase PfPNPLA2 is involved in the mitochondrial degradation of phosphatidylglycerol during Plasmodium falciparum blood stage development. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:997245. [PMID: 38089812 PMCID: PMC10711835 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.997245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is an Apicomplexa responsible for human malaria, a major disease causing more than ½ million deaths every year, against which there is no fully efficient vaccine. The current rapid emergence of drug resistances emphasizes the need to identify novel drug targets. Increasing evidences show that lipid synthesis and trafficking are essential for parasite survival and pathogenesis, and that these pathways represent potential points of attack. Large amounts of phospholipids are needed for the generation of membrane compartments for newly divided parasites in the host cell. Parasite membrane homeostasis is achieved by an essential combination of parasite de novo lipid synthesis/recycling and massive host lipid scavenging. Latest data suggest that the mobilization and channeling of lipid resources is key for asexual parasite survival within the host red blood cell, but the molecular actors allowing lipid acquisition are poorly characterized. Enzymes remodeling lipids such as phospholipases are likely involved in these mechanisms. P. falciparum possesses an unusually large set of phospholipases, whose functions are largely unknown. Here we focused on the putative patatin-like phospholipase PfPNPLA2, for which we generated an glmS-inducible knockdown line and investigated its role during blood stages malaria. Disruption of the mitochondrial PfPNPLA2 in the asexual blood stages affected mitochondrial morphology and further induced a significant defect in parasite replication and survival, in particular under low host lipid availability. Lipidomic analyses revealed that PfPNPLA2 specifically degrades the parasite membrane lipid phosphatidylglycerol to generate lysobisphosphatidic acid. PfPNPLA2 knockdown further resulted in an increased host lipid scavenging accumulating in the form of storage lipids and free fatty acids. These results suggest that PfPNPLA2 is involved in the recycling of parasite phosphatidylglycerol to sustain optimal intraerythrocytic development when the host resources are scarce. This work strengthens our understanding of the complex lipid homeostasis pathways to acquire lipids and allow asexual parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Shunmugam
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Avanced Biosciences, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR5309, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Nyamekye Quansah
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Avanced Biosciences, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR5309, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Ansgar Flammersfeld
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Md Muzahidul Islam
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Juliane Sassmannshausen
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sandra Bennink
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yoshiki Yamaryo-Botté
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Avanced Biosciences, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR5309, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Cyrille Y. Botté
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Avanced Biosciences, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR5309, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
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13
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Mandal RK, Schmidt NW. Mechanistic insights into the interaction between the host gut microbiome and malaria. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011665. [PMID: 37824458 PMCID: PMC10569623 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating infectious disease and significant global health burden caused by the bite of a Plasmodium-infected female Anopheles mosquito. Gut microbiota was recently discovered as a risk factor of severe malaria. This review entails the recent advances on the impact of gut microbiota composition on malaria severity and consequence of malaria infection on gut microbiota in mammalian hosts. Additionally, this review provides mechanistic insight into interactions that might occur between gut microbiota and host immunity which in turn can modulate malaria severity. Finally, approaches to modulate gut microbiota composition are discussed. We anticipate this review will facilitate novel hypotheses to move the malaria-gut microbiome field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabindra K. Mandal
- Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Nathan W. Schmidt
- Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, United States of America
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14
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Lansink LIM, Skinner OP, Engel JA, Lee HJ, Soon MSF, Williams CG, SheelaNair A, Pernold CPS, Laohamonthonkul P, Akter J, Stoll T, Hill MM, Talman AM, Russell A, Lawniczak M, Jia X, Chua B, Anderson D, Creek DJ, Davenport MP, Khoury DS, Haque A. Systemic host inflammation induces stage-specific transcriptomic modification and slower maturation in malaria parasites. mBio 2023; 14:e0112923. [PMID: 37449844 PMCID: PMC10470790 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01129-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Maturation rates of malaria parasites within red blood cells (RBCs) can be influenced by host nutrient status and circadian rhythm; whether host inflammatory responses can also influence maturation remains less clear. Here, we observed that systemic host inflammation induced in mice by an innate immune stimulus, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or by ongoing acute Plasmodium infection, slowed the progression of a single cohort of parasites from one generation of RBC to the next. Importantly, plasma from LPS-conditioned or acutely infected mice directly inhibited parasite maturation during in vitro culture, which was not rescued by supplementation, suggesting the emergence of inhibitory factors in plasma. Metabolomic assessments confirmed substantial alterations to the plasma of LPS-conditioned and acutely infected mice, and identified a small number of candidate inhibitory metabolites. Finally, we confirmed rapid parasite responses to systemic host inflammation in vivo using parasite scRNA-seq, noting broad impairment in transcriptional activity and translational capacity specifically in trophozoites but not rings or schizonts. Thus, we provide evidence that systemic host inflammation rapidly triggered transcriptional alterations in circulating blood-stage Plasmodium trophozoites and predict candidate inhibitory metabolites in the plasma that may impair parasite maturation in vivo. IMPORTANCE Malaria parasites cyclically invade, multiply, and burst out of red blood cells. We found that a strong inflammatory response can cause changes to the composition of host plasma, which directly slows down parasite maturation. Thus, our work highlights a new mechanism that limits malaria parasite growth in the bloodstream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne I. M. Lansink
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver P. Skinner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jessica A. Engel
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hyun Jae Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan S. F. Soon
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cameron G. Williams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arya SheelaNair
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Clara P. S. Pernold
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Jasmin Akter
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas Stoll
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michelle M. Hill
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arthur M. Talman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrew Russell
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mara Lawniczak
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaoxiao Jia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendon Chua
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dovile Anderson
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Miles P. Davenport
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David S. Khoury
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashraful Haque
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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15
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Godin MJ, Sebastian A, Albert I, Lindner SE. Long-Read Genome Assembly and Gene Model Annotations for the Rodent Malaria Parasite Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL. J Biol Chem 2023:104871. [PMID: 37247760 PMCID: PMC10320607 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria causes over 600 thousand fatalities each year, with most cases attributed to the human-infectious Plasmodium falciparum species. Many rodent-infectious Plasmodium species, like Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii, have been used as model species that can expedite studies of this pathogen. P. yoelii is an especially good model for investigating the mosquito and liver stages of parasite development because key attributes closely resemble those of P. falciparum. Because of its importance, in 2002 the 17XNL strain of P. yoelii was the first rodent malaria parasite to be sequenced. While a breakthrough effort, the assembly consisted of >5000 contiguous sequences that adversely impacted the annotated gene models. While other rodent malaria parasite genomes have been sequenced and annotated since then, including the related P. yoelii 17X strain, the 17XNL strain has not. As a result, genomic data for 17X has become the de facto reference genome for the 17XNL strain while leaving open questions surrounding possible differences between the 17XNL and 17X genomes. In this work, we present a high-quality genome assembly for P. yoelii 17XNL using PacBio DNA sequencing. In addition, we use Nanopore and Illumina RNA sequencing of mixed blood stages to create complete gene models that include coding sequences, alternate isoforms, and UTR designations. A comparison of the 17X and this new 17XNL assembly revealed biologically meaningful differences between the strains due to the presence of coding sequence variants. Taken together, our work provides a new genomic framework for studies with this commonly used rodent malaria model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell J Godin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - Aswathy Sebastian
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - Istvan Albert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802; Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802.
| | - Scott E Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802.
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16
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Kannan D, Joshi N, Gupta S, Pati S, Bhattacharjee S, Langsley G, Singh S. Cytoprotective autophagy as a pro-survival strategy in ART-resistant malaria parasites. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:160. [PMID: 37173329 PMCID: PMC10182036 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01401-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite several initiatives to subside the global malaria burden, the spread of artemisinin-resistant parasites poses a big threat to malaria elimination. Mutations in PfKelch13 are predictive of ART resistance, whose underpinning molecular mechanism remains obscure. Recently, endocytosis and stress response pathways such as the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery have been linked to artemisinin resistance. With Plasmodium, however, ambiguity persists regarding a role in ART resistance for another cellular stress defence mechanism called autophagy. Therefore, we investigated whether, in the absence of ART treatment, basal autophagy is augmented in PfK13-R539T mutant ART-resistant parasites and analyzed whether PfK13-R539T endowed mutant parasites with an ability to utilize autophagy as a pro-survival strategy. We report that in the absence of any ART treatment, PfK13-R539T mutant parasites exhibit increased basal autophagy compared to PfK13-WT parasites and respond aggressively through changes in autophagic flux. A clear cytoprotective role of autophagy in parasite resistance mechanism is evident by the observation that a suppression of PI3-Kinase (PI3K) activity (a master autophagy regulator) rendered difficulty in the survival of PfK13-R539T ART-resistant parasites. In conclusion, we now show that higher PI3P levels reported for mutant PfKelch13 backgrounds led to increased basal autophagy that acts as a pro-survival response to ART treatment. Our results highlight PfPI3K as a druggable target with the potential to re-sensitize ART-resistant parasites and identify autophagy as a pro-survival function that modulates ART-resistant parasite growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Kannan
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nishant Joshi
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sonal Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Soumya Pati
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Souvik Bhattacharjee
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Gordon Langsley
- Inserm U1016-CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes - Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
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17
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Wenz C, Simon CS, Romão TP, Stürmer VS, Machado M, Klages N, Klemmer A, Voß Y, Ganter M, Brochet M, Guizetti J. An Sfi1-like centrin-interacting centriolar plaque protein affects nuclear microtubule homeostasis. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011325. [PMID: 37130129 PMCID: PMC10180636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites achieve rapid proliferation in human blood through multiple rounds of asynchronous nuclear division followed by daughter cell formation. Nuclear divisions critically depend on the centriolar plaque, which organizes intranuclear spindle microtubules. The centriolar plaque consists of an extranuclear compartment, which is connected via a nuclear pore-like structure to a chromatin-free intranuclear compartment. Composition and function of this non-canonical centrosome remain largely elusive. Centrins, which reside in the extranuclear part, are among the very few centrosomal proteins conserved in Plasmodium falciparum. Here we identify a novel centrin-interacting centriolar plaque protein. Conditional knock down of this Sfi1-like protein (PfSlp) caused a growth delay in blood stages, which correlated with a reduced number of daughter cells. Surprisingly, intranuclear tubulin abundance was significantly increased, which raises the hypothesis that the centriolar plaque might be implicated in regulating tubulin levels. Disruption of tubulin homeostasis caused excess microtubules and aberrant mitotic spindles. Time-lapse microscopy revealed that this prevented or delayed mitotic spindle extension but did not significantly interfere with DNA replication. Our study thereby identifies a novel extranuclear centriolar plaque factor and establishes a functional link to the intranuclear compartment of this divergent eukaryotic centrosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wenz
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Marta Machado
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natacha Klages
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anja Klemmer
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannik Voß
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Ganter
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Brown AC, Warthan MD, Aryal A, Liu S, Guler JL. Nutrient Limitation Mimics Artemisinin Tolerance in Malaria. mBio 2023:e0070523. [PMID: 37097173 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00705-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence demonstrates that nutritional environment can alter pathogen drug sensitivity. While the rich media used for in vitro culture contains supraphysiological nutrient concentrations, pathogens encounter a relatively restrictive environment in vivo. We assessed the effect of nutrient limitation on the protozoan parasite that causes malaria and demonstrated that short-term growth under physiologically relevant mild nutrient stress (or "metabolic priming") triggers increased tolerance of a potent antimalarial drug. We observed beneficial effects using both short-term survival assays and longer-term proliferation studies, where metabolic priming increases parasite survival to a level previously defined as resistant (>1% survival). We performed these assessments by either decreasing single nutrients that have distinct roles in metabolism or using a media formulation that simulates the human plasma environment. We determined that priming-induced tolerance was restricted to parasites that had newly invaded the host red blood cell, but the effect was not dependent on genetic background. The molecular mechanisms of this intrinsic effect mimic aspects of genetic tolerance, including translational repression and protein export. This finding suggests that regardless of the impact on survival rates, environmental stress could stimulate changes that ultimately directly contribute to drug tolerance. Because metabolic stress is likely to occur more frequently in vivo compared to the stable in vitro environment, priming-induced drug tolerance has ramifications for how in vitro results translate to in vivo studies. Improving our understanding of how pathogens adjust their metabolism to impact survival of current and future drugs is an important avenue of research to slow the evolution of resistance. IMPORTANCE There is a dire need for effective treatments against microbial pathogens. Yet, the continuing emergence of drug resistance necessitates a deeper knowledge of how pathogens respond to treatments. We have long appreciated the contribution of genetic evolution to drug resistance, but transient metabolic changes that arise in response to environmental factors are less recognized. Here, we demonstrate that short-term growth of malaria parasites in a nutrient-limiting environment triggers cellular changes that lead to better survival of drug treatment. We found that these strategies are similar to those employed by drug-tolerant parasites, which suggests that starvation "primes" parasites to survive and potentially evolve resistance. Since the environment of the human host is relatively nutrient restrictive compared to growth conditions in standard laboratory culture, this discovery highlights the important connections among nutrient levels, protective cellular pathways, and resistance evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey C Brown
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Michelle D Warthan
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Anush Aryal
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Shiwei Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guler
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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19
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Schneider V, Visone J, Harris C, Florini F, Hadjimichael E, Zhang X, Gross M, Rhee K, Ben Mamoun C, Kafsack B, Deitsch K. The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can sense environmental changes and respond by antigenic switching. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302152120. [PMID: 37068249 PMCID: PMC10151525 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302152120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary antigenic and virulence determinant of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a variant surface protein called PfEMP1. Different forms of PfEMP1 are encoded by a multicopy gene family called var, and switching between active genes enables the parasites to evade the antibody response of their human hosts. var gene switching is key for the maintenance of chronic infections; however, what controls switching is unknown, although it has been suggested to occur at a constant frequency with little or no environmental influence. var gene transcription is controlled epigenetically through the activity of histone methyltransferases (HMTs). Studies in model systems have shown that metabolism and epigenetic control of gene expression are linked through the availability of intracellular S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the principal methyl donor in biological methylation modifications, which can fluctuate based on nutrient availability. To determine whether environmental conditions and changes in metabolism can influence var gene expression, P. falciparum was cultured in media with altered concentrations of nutrients involved in SAM metabolism. We found that conditions that influence lipid metabolism induce var gene switching, indicating that parasites can respond to changes in their environment by altering var gene expression patterns. Genetic modifications that directly modified expression of the enzymes that control SAM levels similarly led to profound changes in var gene expression, confirming that changes in SAM availability modulate var gene switching. These observations directly challenge the paradigm that antigenic variation in P. falciparum follows an intrinsic, programed switching rate, which operates independently of any external stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M. Schneider
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Joseph E. Visone
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Chantal T. Harris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Francesca Florini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Evi Hadjimichael
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Mackensie R. Gross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Kyu Y. Rhee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Björn F. C. Kafsack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Kirk W. Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
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20
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Abstract
Malaria remains a significant threat to global health, and despite concerted efforts to curb the disease, malaria-related morbidity and mortality increased in recent years. Malaria is caused by unicellular eukaryotes of the genus Plasmodium, and all clinical manifestations occur during asexual proliferation of the parasite inside host erythrocytes. In the blood stage, Plasmodium proliferates through an unusual cell cycle mode called schizogony. Contrary to most studied eukaryotes, which divide by binary fission, the parasite undergoes several rounds of DNA replication and nuclear division that are not directly followed by cytokinesis, resulting in multinucleated cells. Moreover, despite sharing a common cytoplasm, these nuclei multiply asynchronously. Schizogony challenges our current models of cell cycle regulation and, at the same time, offers targets for therapeutic interventions. Over the recent years, the adaptation of advanced molecular and cell biological techniques have given us deeper insight how DNA replication, nuclear division, and cytokinesis are coordinated. Here, we review our current understanding of the chronological events that characterize the unusual cell division cycle of P. falciparum in the clinically relevant blood stage of infection.
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21
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Marreiros IM, Marques S, Parreira A, Mastrodomenico V, Mounce BC, Harris CT, Kafsack BF, Billker O, Zuzarte-Luís V, Mota MM. A non-canonical sensing pathway mediates Plasmodium adaptation to amino acid deficiency. Commun Biol 2023; 6:205. [PMID: 36810637 PMCID: PMC9942083 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04566-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes have canonical pathways for responding to amino acid (AA) availability. Under AA-limiting conditions, the TOR complex is repressed, whereas the sensor kinase GCN2 is activated. While these pathways have been highly conserved throughout evolution, malaria parasites are a rare exception. Despite auxotrophic for most AA, Plasmodium does not have either a TOR complex nor the GCN2-downstream transcription factors. While Ile starvation has been shown to trigger eIF2α phosphorylation and a hibernation-like response, the overall mechanisms mediating detection and response to AA fluctuation in the absence of such pathways has remained elusive. Here we show that Plasmodium parasites rely on an efficient sensing pathway to respond to AA fluctuations. A phenotypic screen of kinase knockout mutant parasites identified nek4, eIK1 and eIK2-the last two clustering with the eukaryotic eIF2α kinases-as critical for Plasmodium to sense and respond to distinct AA-limiting conditions. Such AA-sensing pathway is temporally regulated at distinct life cycle stages, allowing parasites to actively fine-tune replication and development in response to AA availability. Collectively, our data disclose a set of heterogeneous responses to AA depletion in malaria parasites, mediated by a complex mechanism that is critical for modulating parasite growth and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês M. Marreiros
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal ,grid.5808.50000 0001 1503 7226Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Marques
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Parreira
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vincent Mastrodomenico
- grid.164971.c0000 0001 1089 6558Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL USA
| | - Bryan C. Mounce
- grid.164971.c0000 0001 1089 6558Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL USA ,grid.164971.c0000 0001 1089 6558Infectious Disease and Immunology Research Institute, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL USA
| | - Chantal T. Harris
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XImmunology & Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Björn F. Kafsack
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA
| | - Oliver Billker
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Molecular Biology Department, Umeå University, Umeå, S-90187 Sweden
| | - Vanessa Zuzarte-Luís
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria M. Mota
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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22
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Patterns of Heterochromatin Transitions Linked to Changes in the Expression of Plasmodium falciparum Clonally Variant Genes. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0304922. [PMID: 36515553 PMCID: PMC9927496 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03049-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival of malaria parasites in the changing human blood environment largely depends on their ability to alter gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms. The active state of Plasmodium falciparum clonally variant genes (CVGs) is associated with euchromatin characterized by the histone mark H3K9ac, whereas the silenced state is characterized by H3K9me3-based heterochromatin. Expression switches are linked to euchromatin-heterochromatin transitions, but these transitions have not been characterized for the majority of CVGs. To define the heterochromatin distribution patterns associated with the alternative transcriptional states of CVGs, we compared H3K9me3 occupancy at a genome-wide level among several parasite subclones of the same genetic background that differed in the transcriptional state of many CVGs. We found that de novo heterochromatin formation or the complete disruption of a heterochromatin domain is a relatively rare event, and for the majority of CVGs, expression switches can be explained by the expansion or retraction of heterochromatin domains. We identified different modalities of heterochromatin changes linked to transcriptional differences, but despite this complexity, heterochromatin distribution patterns generally enable the prediction of the transcriptional state of specific CVGs. We also found that in some subclones, several var genes were simultaneously in an active state. Furthermore, the heterochromatin levels in the putative regulatory region of the gdv1 antisense noncoding RNA, a regulator of sexual commitment, varied between parasite lines with different sexual conversion rates. IMPORTANCE The malaria parasite P. falciparum is responsible for more than half a million deaths every year. P. falciparum clonally variant genes (CVGs) mediate fundamental host-parasite interactions and play a key role in parasite adaptation to fluctuations in the conditions of the human host. The expression of CVGs is regulated at the epigenetic level by changes in the distribution of a type of chromatin called heterochromatin. Here, we describe at a genome-wide level the changes in the heterochromatin distribution associated with the different transcriptional states of CVGs. Our results also reveal a likely role for heterochromatin at a particular locus in determining the parasite investment in transmission to mosquitoes. Additionally, this data set will enable the prediction of the transcriptional state of CVGs from epigenomic data, which is important for the study of parasite adaptation to the conditions of the host in natural malaria infections.
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The Association between Nutritional Status and Parasite Density in Children with Vivax Malaria in Kualuh Leidong, Indonesia. ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023. [DOI: 10.5812/pedinfect-126995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Background: Nutritional status is believed to affect the immune system and parasite density in children diagnosed with malaria from Plasmodium vivax infection. It is known that nutritional status could facilitate the growth of protective immune response towards malaria antigen, but some studies have shown that poor nutrition could cause clinical complications and lead to severe malaria. There have also been different reports on the relationship between nutritional status and parasite density. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between nutritional status and parasite density in children with vivax malaria in Kualuh Leidong area. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to January 2020 in Kualuh Leidong to investigate 48 children aged between 2 - 18 and diagnosed with vivax malaria. The nutritional status of children with fever and positive Plasmodium vivax confirmed by microscopic examination were evaluated. Parasite density was determined in order to assess the severity of the infection. A non-parametric test was performed to examine the association between these two conditions. Results: There was a significant association (P = 0.032) between sexual parasite density and nutritional status. A post hoc test showed that overweight or mild malnutrition significantly correlated (P = 0.029) with high sexual parasite density. However, no significant association was found between nutritional status and asexual parasite density (P = 0.222).
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Rapid metabolic reprogramming mediated by the AMP-activated protein kinase during the lytic cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2023; 14:422. [PMID: 36702847 PMCID: PMC9880002 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36084-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous pathogen Toxoplasma gondii has a complex lifestyle with different metabolic activities at different stages that are intimately linked to the parasitic environments. Here we identified the eukaryotic regulator of cellular homeostasis AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in Toxoplasma and discovered its role in metabolic programming during parasite's lytic cycle. The catalytic subunit AMPKα is quickly phosphorylated after the release of intracellular parasites to extracellular environments, driving energy-producing catabolism to power parasite motility and invasion into host cells. Once inside host cells, AMPKα phosphorylation is reduced to basal level to promote a balance between energy production and biomass synthesis, allowing robust parasite replication. AMPKγ depletion abolishes AMPKα phosphorylation and suppresses parasite growth, which can be partially rescued by overexpressing wildtype AMPKα but not the phosphorylation mutants. Thus, through the cyclic reprogramming by AMPK, the parasites' metabolic needs at each stage are satisfied and the lytic cycle progresses robustly.
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Godin MJ, Sebastian A, Albert I, Lindner SE. Long-Read Genome Assembly and Gene Model Annotations for the Rodent Malaria Parasite Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.06.523040. [PMID: 36711553 PMCID: PMC9882011 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.06.523040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Malaria causes over 200 million infections and over 600 thousand fatalities each year, with most cases attributed to a human-infectious Plasmodium species, Plasmodium falciparum . Many rodent-infectious Plasmodium species, like Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium chabaudi , and Plasmodium yoelii , have been used as genetically tractable model species that can expedite studies of this pathogen. In particular, P. yoelii is an especially good model for investigating the mosquito and liver stages of parasite development because key attributes closely resemble those of P. falciparum . Because of its importance to malaria research, in 2002 the 17XNL strain of P. yoelii was the first rodent malaria parasite to be sequenced. While sequencing and assembling this genome was a breakthrough effort, the final assembly consisted of >5000 contiguous sequences that impacted the creation of annotated gene models. While other important rodent malaria parasite genomes have been sequenced and annotated since then, including the related P. yoelii 17X strain, the 17XNL strain has not. As a result, genomic data for 17X has become the de facto reference genome for the 17XNL strain while leaving open questions surrounding possible differences between the 17XNL and 17X genomes. In this work, we present a high-quality genome assembly for P. yoelii 17XNL using HiFi PacBio long-read DNA sequencing. In addition, we use Nanopore long-read direct RNA-seq and Illumina short-read sequencing of mixed blood stages to create complete gene models that include not only coding sequences but also alternate transcript isoforms, and 5' and 3' UTR designations. A comparison of the 17X and this new 17XNL assembly revealed biologically meaningful differences between the strains due to the presence of coding sequence variants. Taken together, our work provides a new genomic and gene expression framework for studies with this commonly used rodent malaria model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell J. Godin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - Aswathy Sebastian
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - Istvan Albert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - Scott E. Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
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26
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Matambisso G, Brokhattingen N, Maculuve S, Cisteró P, Mbeve H, Escoda A, Miguel J, Buetas E, de Jong I, Cuna B, Melembe C, Ndimande N, Porras G, Chen H, Tetteh KKA, Drakeley C, Gamain B, Chitnis C, Chauhan V, Quintó L, Galatas B, Macete E, Mayor A. Gravidity and malaria trends interact to modify P. falciparum densities and detectability in pregnancy: a 3-year prospective multi-site observational study. BMC Med 2022; 20:396. [PMID: 36376866 PMCID: PMC9664815 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02597-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-density Plasmodium falciparum infections prevail in low transmission settings, where immunity is expected to be minimal, suggesting an immune-independent effect on parasite densities. We aimed to describe parasite densities in pregnancy, and determine how gravidity and antibody-mediated immunity affect these, during a period of declining malaria transmission in southern Mozambique. METHODS We documented P. falciparum infections at first antenatal care visits (n = 6471) between November 2016 and October 2019 in Ilha Josina (high-to-moderate transmission area), Manhiça (low transmission area), and Magude (pre-elimination area). Two-way interactions in mixed-effects regression models were used to assess gravidity-dependent differences in quantitative PCR-determined P. falciparum positivity rates (PfPRqPCR) and densities, in the relative proportion of detectable infections (pDi) with current diagnostic tests (≥ 100 parasites/μL) and in antimalarial antibodies. RESULTS PfPRqPCR declined from 28 to 13% in Ilha Josina and from 5-7 to 2% in Magude and Manhiça. In primigravidae, pDi was highest in Ilha Josina at the first study year (p = 0.048), which declined with falling PfPRqPCR (relative change/year: 0.41, 95% CI [0.08; 0.73], p = 0.029), with no differences in antibody levels. Higher parasite densities in primigravidae from Ilha Josina during the first year were accompanied by a larger reduction of maternal hemoglobin levels (- 1.60, 95% CI [- 2.49; - 0.72; p < 0.001), than in Magude (- 0.76, 95% CI [- 1.51; - 0.01]; p = 0.047) and Manhiça (- 0.44, 95% CI [- 0.99; 0.10; p = 0.112). In contrast, multigravidae during the transmission peak in Ilha Josina carried the lowest pDi (p = 0.049). As PfPRqPCR declined, geometric mean of parasite densities increased (4.63, 95% CI [1.28; 16.82], p = 0.020), and antibody levels declined among secundigravidae from Ilha Josina. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of detectable and clinically relevant infections is the highest in primigravid women from high-to-moderate transmission settings and decreases with declining malaria. In contrast, the falling malaria trends are accompanied by increased parasite densities and reduced humoral immunity among secundigravidae. Factors other than acquired immunity thus emerge as potentially important for producing less detectable infections among primigravidae during marked declines in malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glória Matambisso
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Sónia Maculuve
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Pau Cisteró
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Henriques Mbeve
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Anna Escoda
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judice Miguel
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Elena Buetas
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ianthe de Jong
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Boaventura Cuna
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Cardoso Melembe
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Nelo Ndimande
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Gemma Porras
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Haily Chen
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kevin K A Tetteh
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Chris Drakeley
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Benoit Gamain
- Université de Paris, Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge, UMR_S1134, Inserm, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Chetan Chitnis
- Department of Parasites & Insect Vectors, Malaria Parasite Biology and Vaccines, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Virander Chauhan
- Malaria Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
| | - Llorenç Quintó
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique.,ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Galatas
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique.,ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eusébio Macete
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique.,National Directare of Health, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique. .,ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Spanish Consortium for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. .,Department of Physiologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique.
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Chhibber-Goel J, Shukla A, Shanmugam D, Sharma A. Profiling of metabolic alterations in mice infected with malaria parasites via high-resolution metabolomics. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 252:111525. [PMID: 36209797 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria infection can result in distinct clinical outcomes from asymptomatic to severe. The association between patho-physiological changes and molecular changes in the host, and their correlation with severity of malaria progression is not fully understood. METHODS In this study, we addressed mass spectrometry-based temporal profiling of serum metabolite levels from mice infected with Plasmodium berhgei (strain ANKA). RESULTS We show global perturbations and identify changes in specific metabolites in correlation with disease progression. While metabolome-wide changes were apparent in late-stage malaria, a subset of metabolites exhibited highly correlated changes with disease progression. These metabolites changed early on following infection and either continued or maintained the change as mice developed severe disease. Some of these have the potential to be sentinel metabolites for severe malaria. Moreover, glycolytic metabolites, purine nucleotide precursors, tryptophan and its bioactive derivatives were many fold decreased in late-stage disease. Interestingly, uric acid, a metabolic waste reported to be elevated in severe human malaria, increased with disease progression, and subsequently appears to be detoxified into allantoin. This detoxification mechanism is absent in humans as they lack the enzyme uricase. CONCLUSIONS We have identified candidate marker metabolites that may be of relevance in the context of human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Chhibber-Goel
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anurag Shukla
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Dhanasekaran Shanmugam
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Amit Sharma
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India; ICMR-National institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi 110077, India.
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28
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Zhou S, Lu Y, Chen J, Pan Z, Pang L, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Strand MR, Chen XX, Huang J. Parasite reliance on its host gut microbiota for nutrition and survival. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:2574-2586. [PMID: 35941172 PMCID: PMC9561699 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01301-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Studying the microbial symbionts of eukaryotic hosts has revealed a range of interactions that benefit host biology. Most eukaryotes are also infected by parasites that adversely affect host biology for their own benefit. However, it is largely unclear whether the ability of parasites to develop in hosts also depends on host-associated symbionts, e.g., the gut microbiota. Here, we studied the parasitic wasp Leptopilina boulardi (Lb) and its host Drosophila melanogaster. Results showed that Lb successfully develops in conventional hosts (CN) with a gut microbiota but fails to develop in axenic hosts (AX) without a gut microbiota. We determined that developing Lb larvae consume fat body cells that store lipids. We also determined that much larger amounts of lipid accumulate in fat body cells of parasitized CN hosts than parasitized AX hosts. CN hosts parasitized by Lb exhibited large increases in the abundance of the bacterium Acetobacter pomorum in the gut, but did not affect the abundance of Lactobacillus fructivorans which is another common member of the host gut microbiota. However, AX hosts inoculated with A. pomorum and/or L. fructivorans did not rescue development of Lb. In contrast, AX larvae inoculated with A. pomorum plus other identified gut community members including a Bacillus sp. substantially rescued Lb development. Rescue was further associated with increased lipid accumulation in host fat body cells. Insulin-like peptides increased in brain neurosecretory cells of parasitized CN larvae. Lipid accumulation in the fat body of CN hosts was further associated with reduced Bmm lipase activity mediated by insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS). Altogether, our results identify a previously unknown role for the gut microbiota in defining host permissiveness for a parasite. Our findings also identify a new paradigm for parasite manipulation of host metabolism that depends on insulin signaling and the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicong Zhou
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yueqi Lu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiani Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhongqiu Pan
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lan Pang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qichao Zhang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Michael R Strand
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Xue-Xin Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- State Key Lab of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Jianhua Huang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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The beta subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase is critical for cell cycle progression and parasite development in Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:532. [DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04556-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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30
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Epigenetic and Epitranscriptomic Gene Regulation in Plasmodium falciparum and How We Can Use It against Malaria. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101734. [PMID: 36292619 PMCID: PMC9601349 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, is still one of the biggest global health challenges. P. falciparum is the deadliest species to humans. In this review, we discuss how this parasite develops and adapts to the complex and heterogenous environments of its two hosts thanks to varied chromatin-associated and epigenetic mechanisms. First, one small family of transcription factors, the ApiAP2 proteins, functions as master regulators of spatio-temporal patterns of gene expression through the parasite life cycle. In addition, chromatin plasticity determines variable parasite cell phenotypes that link to parasite growth, virulence and transmission, enabling parasite adaptation within host conditions. In recent years, epitranscriptomics is emerging as a new regulatory layer of gene expression. We present evidence of the variety of tRNA and mRNA modifications that are being characterized in Plasmodium spp., and the dynamic changes in their abundance during parasite development and cell fate. We end up outlining that new biological systems, like the mosquito model, to decipher the unknowns about epigenetic mechanisms in vivo; and novel methodologies, to study the function of RNA modifications; are needed to discover the Achilles heel of the parasite. With this new knowledge, future strategies manipulating the epigenetics and epitranscriptomic machinery of the parasite have the potential of providing new weapons against malaria.
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31
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Walsh D, Katris NJ, Sheiner L, Botté CY. Toxoplasma metabolic flexibility in different growth conditions. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:775-790. [PMID: 35718642 PMCID: PMC10506913 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites have complex metabolic networks that coordinate acquisition of metabolites by de novo synthesis and by scavenging from the host. Toxoplasma gondii has a wide host range and may rely on the flexibility of this metabolic network. Currently, the literature categorizes genes as essential or dispensable according to their dispensability for parasite survival under nutrient-replete in vitro conditions. However, recent studies revealed correlations between medium composition and gene essentiality. Therefore, nutrient availability in the host environment likely determines the requirement of metabolic pathways, which may redefine priorities for drug target identification in a clinical setting. Here we review the recent work characterizing some of the major Toxoplasma metabolic pathways and their functional adaptation to host nutrient content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Walsh
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nicholas J Katris
- ApicoLipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Lilach Sheiner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Cyrille Y Botté
- ApicoLipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France.
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Ramos S, Ademolue TW, Jentho E, Wu Q, Guerra J, Martins R, Pires G, Weis S, Carlos AR, Mahú I, Seixas E, Duarte D, Rajas F, Cardoso S, Sousa AGG, Lilue J, Paixão T, Mithieux G, Nogueira F, Soares MP. A hypometabolic defense strategy against malaria. Cell Metab 2022; 34:1183-1200.e12. [PMID: 35841892 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hypoglycemia is a clinical hallmark of severe malaria, the often-lethal outcome of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Here, we report that malaria-associated hypoglycemia emerges from a non-canonical resistance mechanism, whereby the infected host reduces glycemia to starve Plasmodium. This hypometabolic response is elicited by labile heme, a byproduct of hemolysis that induces illness-induced anorexia and represses hepatic glucose production. While transient repression of hepatic glucose production prevents unfettered immune-mediated inflammation, organ damage, and anemia, when sustained over time it leads to hypoglycemia, compromising host energy expenditure and adaptive thermoregulation. The latter arrests the development of asexual stages of Plasmodium via a mechanism associated with parasite mitochondrial dysfunction. In response, Plasmodium activates a transcriptional program associated with the reduction of virulence and sexual differentiation toward the generation of transmissible gametocytes. In conclusion, malaria-associated hypoglycemia represents a trade-off of a hypometabolic-based defense strategy that balances parasite virulence versus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Ramos
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | - Elisa Jentho
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Qian Wu
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Joel Guerra
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Rui Martins
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Gil Pires
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Sebastian Weis
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany; Institute for Infectious Disease and Infection Control, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany; Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Jena University, Jena, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Inês Mahú
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Elsa Seixas
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Denise Duarte
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Tiago Paixão
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | - Fátima Nogueira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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33
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Single-cell views of the Plasmodium life cycle. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:748-757. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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McDonald J, Merrick CJ. DNA replication dynamics during erythrocytic schizogony in the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010595. [PMID: 35731838 PMCID: PMC9255763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites are unusual, early-diverging protozoans with non-canonical cell cycles. They do not undergo binary fission, but divide primarily by schizogony. This involves the asynchronous production of multiple nuclei within the same cytoplasm, culminating in a single mass cytokinesis event. The rate and efficiency of parasite reproduction is fundamentally important to malarial disease, which tends to be severe in hosts with high parasite loads. Here, we have studied for the first time the dynamics of schizogony in two human malaria parasite species, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi. These differ in their cell-cycle length, the number of progeny produced and the genome composition, among other factors. Comparing them could therefore yield new information about the parameters and limitations of schizogony. We report that the dynamics of schizogony differ significantly between these two species, most strikingly in the gap phases between successive nuclear multiplications, which are longer in P. falciparum and shorter, but more heterogenous, in P. knowlesi. In both species, gaps become longer as schizogony progresses, whereas each period of active DNA replication grows shorter. In both species there is also extreme variability between individual cells, with some schizonts producing many more nuclei than others, and some individual nuclei arresting their DNA replication for many hours while adjacent nuclei continue to replicate. The efficiency of schizogony is probably influenced by a complex set of factors in both the parasite and its host cell. Malaria parasites are unusual, early-diverging single-celled organisms. One of their atypical features is their mode of producing new cells. Most cells replicate their genome, segregate the copies into two nuclei and then split the whole cell in two: a process called binary fission. Malaria parasites, by contrast, multiply primarily by schizogony. Each cell replicates its genome several times over, asynchronously, generating many nuclei within the same cytoplasm, before splitting into many new daughter cells in a single mass event. All malaria species do this, but there are stark differences between species in how long schizogony takes and how many progeny each cell can produce. Understanding this is important because the rate of parasite reproduction is fundamentally important to malarial disease: humans who have a high burden of parasites in their blood are most likely to suffer severe malaria. Here we compare the process of schizogony in two different species, by developing cell lines in which we can follow de novo DNA replication at high spatial and temporal resolution, at both whole-cell and single-molecule levels. We establish the dynamics of schizogony, highlighting similarities and differences between two species and setting parameters for future studies of interventions that could interfere with parasite reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer McDonald
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine J. Merrick
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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35
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Stochastic expression of invasion genes in Plasmodium falciparum schizonts. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3004. [PMID: 35637187 PMCID: PMC9151791 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30605-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically identical cells are known to exhibit differential phenotypes in the same environmental conditions. These phenotypic variants are linked to transcriptional stochasticity and have been shown to contribute towards adaptive flexibility of a wide range of unicellular organisms. Here, we investigate transcriptional heterogeneity and stochastic gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum by performing the quasilinear multiple annealing and looping based amplification cycles (MALBAC) based amplification and single cell RNA sequencing of blood stage schizonts. Our data reveals significant transcriptional variations in the schizont stage with a distinct group of highly variable invasion gene transcripts being identified. Moreover, the data reflects several diversification processes including putative developmental “checkpoint”; transcriptomically distinct parasite sub-populations and transcriptional switches in variable gene families (var, rifin, phist). Most of these features of transcriptional variability are preserved in isogenic parasite cell populations (albeit with a lesser amplitude) suggesting a role of epigenetic factors in cell-to-cell transcriptional variations in human malaria parasites. Lastly, we apply quantitative RT-PCR and RNA-FISH approach and confirm stochastic expression of key invasion genes, such as, msp1, msp3, msp7, eba181 and ama1 which represent prime candidates for invasion-blocking vaccines. Genetically identical cells can be phenotypically diverse to allow adaptive flexibility in a given environment. This phenotypic diversity is driven by epigenetic and transcriptional variability. Here, Tripathi et al. perform scRNA-seq of isogenic and non-isogenic Plasmodium falciparum schizont populations to explore transcriptional heterogeneity and stochastic gene expression during the course of development.
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36
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Klaus S, Binder P, Kim J, Machado M, Funaya C, Schaaf V, Klaschka D, Kudulyte A, Cyrklaff M, Laketa V, Höfer T, Guizetti J, Becker NB, Frischknecht F, Schwarz US, Ganter M. Asynchronous nuclear cycles in multinucleated Plasmodium falciparum facilitate rapid proliferation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj5362. [PMID: 35353560 PMCID: PMC8967237 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites proliferate within erythrocytes through schizogony, forming multinucleated stages before cellularization. Nuclear multiplication does not follow a strict geometric 2n progression, and each proliferative cycle produces a variable number of progeny. Here, by tracking nuclei and DNA replication, we show that individual nuclei replicate their DNA at different times, despite residing in a shared cytoplasm. Extrapolating from experimental data using mathematical modeling, we provide strong indication that a limiting factor exists, which slows down the nuclear multiplication rate. Consistent with this prediction, our data show that temporally overlapping DNA replication events were significantly slower than partially overlapping or nonoverlapping events. Our findings suggest the existence of evolutionary pressure that selects for asynchronous DNA replication, balancing available resources with rapid pathogen proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severina Klaus
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Binder
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juyeop Kim
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marta Machado
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Charlotta Funaya
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Violetta Schaaf
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Darius Klaschka
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aiste Kudulyte
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marek Cyrklaff
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vibor Laketa
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Höfer
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils B. Becker
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich S. Schwarz
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Ganter
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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37
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Morais I, Medeiros MM, Carvalho M, Morello J, Teixeira SM, Maciel S, Nhantumbo J, Balau A, Rosa MTG, Nogueira F, Rodrigues JA, Carvalho FA, Antunes AMM, Arez AP. Synthetic Red Blood Cell-Specific Glycolytic Intermediate 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) Inhibits Plasmodium falciparum Development In Vitro. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:840968. [PMID: 35372095 PMCID: PMC8967366 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.840968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of malaria parasite interaction with its host red blood cell may provide potential targets for new antimalarial approaches. Pyruvate kinase deficiency has been associated with resistance to malaria in both experimental models and population studies. Two of the major pyruvate kinase deficient-cell disorders are the decrease in ATP and the increase in 2,3-biphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) concentration. High levels of this metabolite, only present in mammalian red blood cell, has an inhibitory effect on glycolysis and we hypothesized that its accumulation may also be harmful to the parasite and be involved in the mechanism of protection provided by that enzymopathy. We examined the effect of a synthetic form, 2,3-DPG, on the Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic developmental cycle in vitro. Results showed an impairment of parasite growth with a direct effect on parasite maturation as significant lower progeny emerged from parasites that were submitted to 2,3-DPG. Further, adding the compound to the culture medium did not result in any effect on the host cell, but instead the metabolic profile of an infected cell became closer to that of a non-infected cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Morais
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Márcia M. Medeiros
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Carvalho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Judit Morello
- CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara M. Teixeira
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Suelma Maciel
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Janice Nhantumbo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Balau
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Margarida T. G. Rosa
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Fátima Nogueira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Filomena A. Carvalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra M. M. Antunes
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Arez
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Ana Paula Arez,
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38
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Tintó-Font E, Cortés A. Malaria parasites do respond to heat. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:435-449. [PMID: 35301987 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of malaria parasites to respond to changes in their environment at the transcriptional level has been the subject of debate, but recent evidence has unambiguously demonstrated that Plasmodium spp. can produce adaptive transcriptional responses when exposed to some specific types of stress. These include metabolic conditions and febrile temperature. The Plasmodium falciparum protective response to thermal stress is similar to the response in other organisms, but it is regulated by a transcription factor evolutionarily unrelated to the conserved transcription factor that drives the heat shock (HS) response in most eukaryotes. Of the many genes that change expression during HS, only a subset constitutes an authentic response that contributes to parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Tintó-Font
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alfred Cortés
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Catalonia, Spain; ICREA, Barcelona 08010, Catalonia, Spain.
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Shunmugam S, Arnold CS, Dass S, Katris NJ, Botté CY. The flexibility of Apicomplexa parasites in lipid metabolism. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010313. [PMID: 35298557 PMCID: PMC8929637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites responsible for major human infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis and malaria, which pose social and economic burdens around the world. To survive and propagate, these parasites need to acquire a significant number of essential biomolecules from their hosts. Among these biomolecules, lipids are a key metabolite required for parasite membrane biogenesis, signaling events, and energy storage. Parasites can either scavenge lipids from their host or synthesize them de novo in a relict plastid, the apicoplast. During their complex life cycle (sexual/asexual/dormant), Apicomplexa infect a large variety of cells and their metabolic flexibility allows them to adapt to different host environments such as low/high fat content or low/high sugar levels. In this review, we discuss the role of lipids in Apicomplexa parasites and summarize recent findings on the metabolic mechanisms in host nutrient adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Shunmugam
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Christophe-Sébastien Arnold
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Sheena Dass
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Nicholas J. Katris
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Cyrille Y. Botté
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
- * E-mail: ,
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40
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Portugal S, Rodriguez A, Prudêncio M. Maria M. Mota: Bringing Plasmodium Liver Infection to the Centre Stage of Malaria Research. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:851484. [PMID: 35211424 PMCID: PMC8860983 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.851484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Miguel Prudêncio,
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41
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Little TS, Cunningham DA, Vandomme A, Lopez CT, Amis S, Alder C, Addy JWG, McLaughlin S, Hosking C, Christophides G, Reid AJ, Langhorne J. Analysis of pir gene expression across the Plasmodium life cycle. Malar J 2021; 20:445. [PMID: 34823519 PMCID: PMC8614022 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03979-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium interspersed repeat (pir) is the largest multigene family in the genomes of most Plasmodium species. A variety of functions for the PIR proteins which they encode have been proposed, including antigenic variation, immune evasion, sequestration and rosetting. However, direct evidence for these is lacking. The repetitive nature of the family has made it difficult to determine function experimentally. However, there has been some success in using gene expression studies to suggest roles for some members in virulence and chronic infection. Methods Here pir gene expression was examined across the life cycle of Plasmodium berghei using publicly available RNAseq data-sets, and at high resolution in the intraerythrocytic development cycle using new data from Plasmodium chabaudi. Results Expression of pir genes is greatest in stages of the parasite which invade and reside in red blood cells. The marked exception is that liver merozoites and male gametocytes produce a very large number of pir gene transcripts, notably compared to female gametocytes, which produce relatively few. Within the asexual blood stages different subfamilies peak at different times, suggesting further functional distinctions. Representing a subfamily of its own, the highly conserved ancestral pir gene warrants further investigation due to its potential tractability for functional investigation. It is highly transcribed in multiple life cycle stages and across most studied Plasmodium species and thus is likely to play an important role in parasite biology. Conclusions The identification of distinct expression patterns for different pir genes and subfamilies is likely to provide a basis for the design of future experiments to uncover their function. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-021-03979-6.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Carlos Talavera Lopez
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.,Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adam J Reid
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
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42
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Prior KF, Middleton B, Owolabi AT, Westwood ML, Holland J, O'Donnell AJ, Blackman MJ, Skene DJ, Reece SE. Synchrony between daily rhythms of malaria parasites and hosts is driven by an essential amino acid. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:186. [PMID: 34805551 PMCID: PMC8577053.2 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16894.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Rapid asexual replication of blood stage malaria parasites is responsible for the severity of disease symptoms and fuels the production of transmission forms. Here, we demonstrate that a Plasmodium chabaudi's schedule for asexual replication can be orchestrated by isoleucine, a metabolite provided to the parasite in a periodic manner due to the host's rhythmic intake of food. Methods: We infect female C57BL/6 and Per1/2-null mice which have a disrupted canonical (transcription translation feedback loop, TTFL) clock with 1×10 5 red blood cells containing P. chabaudi (DK genotype). We perturb the timing of rhythms in asexual replication and host feeding-fasting cycles to identify nutrients with rhythms that match all combinations of host and parasite rhythms. We then test whether perturbing the availability of the best candidate nutrient in vitro changes the schedule for asexual development. Results: Our large-scale metabolomics experiment and follow up experiments reveal that only one metabolite - the amino acid isoleucine - fits criteria for a time-of-day cue used by parasites to set the schedule for replication. The response to isoleucine is a parasite strategy rather than solely the consequences of a constraint imposed by host rhythms, because unlike when parasites are deprived of other essential nutrients, they suffer no apparent costs from isoleucine withdrawal. Conclusions: Overall, our data suggest parasites can use the daily rhythmicity of blood-isoleucine concentration to synchronise asexual development with the availability of isoleucine, and potentially other resources, that arrive in the blood in a periodic manner due to the host's daily feeding-fasting cycle. Identifying both how and why parasites keep time opens avenues for interventions; interfering with the parasite's time-keeping mechanism may stall replication, increasing the efficacy of drugs and immune responses, and could also prevent parasites from entering dormancy to tolerate drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley F. Prior
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
| | - Benita Middleton
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Alíz T.Y. Owolabi
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mary L. Westwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jacob Holland
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aidan J. O'Donnell
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK,Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Debra J. Skene
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Sarah E. Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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43
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Prior KF, Middleton B, Owolabi AT, Westwood ML, Holland J, O'Donnell AJ, Blackman MJ, Skene DJ, Reece SE. Synchrony between daily rhythms of malaria parasites and hosts is driven by an essential amino acid. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:186. [PMID: 34805551 PMCID: PMC8577053 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16894.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Rapid asexual replication of blood stage malaria parasites is responsible for the severity of disease symptoms and fuels the production of transmission forms. Here, we demonstrate that the Plasmodium chabaudi's schedule for asexual replication can be orchestrated by isoleucine, a metabolite provided to the parasite in periodic manner due to the host's rhythmic intake of food. Methods: We infect female C57BL/6 and Per1/2-null TTFL clock-disrupted mice with 1×10 5 red blood cells containing P. chabaudi (DK genotype). We perturb the timing of rhythms in asexual replication and host feeding-fasting cycles to identify nutrients with rhythms that match all combinations of host and parasite rhythms. We then test whether perturbing the availability of the best candidate nutrient in vitro elicits changes their schedule for asexual development. Results: Our large-scale metabolomics experiment and follow up experiments reveal that only one metabolite - the amino acid isoleucine - fits criteria for a time-of-day cue used by parasites to set the schedule for replication. The response to isoleucine is a parasite strategy rather than solely the consequences of a constraint imposed by host rhythms, because unlike when parasites are deprived of other essential nutrients, they suffer no apparent costs from isoleucine withdrawal. Conclusions: Overall, our data suggest parasites can use the daily rhythmicity of blood-isoleucine concentration to synchronise asexual development with the availability of isoleucine, and potentially other resources, that arrive in the blood in a periodic manner due to the host's daily feeding-fasting cycle. Identifying both how and why parasites keep time opens avenues for interventions; interfering with the parasite's time-keeping mechanism may stall replication, increasing the efficacy of drugs and immune responses, and could also prevent parasites from entering dormancy to tolerate drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley F. Prior
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
| | - Benita Middleton
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Alíz T.Y. Owolabi
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mary L. Westwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jacob Holland
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aidan J. O'Donnell
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK,Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Debra J. Skene
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Sarah E. Reece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Immunology & Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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44
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Rajendran E, Clark M, Goulart C, Steinhöfel B, Tjhin ET, Gross S, Smith NC, Kirk K, van Dooren GG. Substrate-mediated regulation of the arginine transporter of Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009816. [PMID: 34352043 PMCID: PMC8370653 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites, such as the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii, are adept at scavenging nutrients from their host. However, there is little understanding of how parasites sense and respond to the changing nutrient environments they encounter during an infection. TgApiAT1, a member of the apicomplexan ApiAT family of amino acid transporters, is the major uptake route for the essential amino acid L-arginine (Arg) in T. gondii. Here, we show that the abundance of TgApiAT1, and hence the rate of uptake of Arg, is regulated by the availability of Arg in the parasite's external environment, increasing in response to decreased [Arg]. Using a luciferase-based 'biosensor' strain of T. gondii, we demonstrate that the expression of TgApiAT1 varies between different organs within the host, indicating that parasites are able to modulate TgApiAT1-dependent uptake of Arg as they encounter different nutrient environments in vivo. Finally, we show that Arg-dependent regulation of TgApiAT1 expression is post-transcriptional, mediated by an upstream open reading frame (uORF) in the TgApiAT1 transcript, and we provide evidence that the peptide encoded by this uORF is critical for mediating regulation. Together, our data reveal the mechanism by which an apicomplexan parasite responds to changes in the availability of a key nutrient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Rajendran
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Morgan Clark
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cibelly Goulart
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Birte Steinhöfel
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Erick T. Tjhin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Simon Gross
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nicholas C. Smith
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kiaran Kirk
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Giel G. van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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45
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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46
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Vijayan K, Wei L, Glennon EKK, Mattocks C, Bourgeois N, Staker B, Kaushansky A. Host-targeted Interventions as an Exciting Opportunity to Combat Malaria. Chem Rev 2021; 121:10452-10468. [PMID: 34197083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Terminal and benign diseases alike in adults, children, pregnant women, and others are successfully treated by pharmacological inhibitors that target human enzymes. Despite extensive global efforts to fight malaria, the disease continues to be a massive worldwide health burden, and new interventional strategies are needed. Current drugs and vector control strategies have contributed to the reduction in malaria deaths over the past 10 years, but progress toward eradication has waned in recent years. Resistance to antimalarial drugs is a substantial and growing problem. Moreover, targeting dormant forms of the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax is only possible with two approved drugs, which are both contraindicated for individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and in pregnant women. Plasmodium parasites are obligate intracellular parasites and thus have specific and absolute requirements of their hosts. Growing evidence has described these host necessities, paving the way for opportunities to pharmacologically target host factors to eliminate Plasmodium infection. Here, we describe progress in malaria research and adjacent fields and discuss key challenges that remain in implementing host-directed therapy against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ling Wei
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | | | - Christa Mattocks
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Natasha Bourgeois
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Bart Staker
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States.,Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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Gnangnon B, Duraisingh MT, Buckee CO. Deconstructing the parasite multiplication rate of Plasmodium falciparum. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:922-932. [PMID: 34119440 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological indicators describing population-level malaria transmission dynamics are widely used to guide policy recommendations. However, the determinants of malaria outcomes within individuals are still poorly understood. This conceptual gap partly reflects the fact that there are few indicators that robustly predict the trajectory of individual infections or clinical outcomes. The parasite multiplication rate (PMR) is a widely used indicator for the Plasmodium intraerythrocytic development cycle (IDC), for example, but its relationship to clinical outcomes is complex. Here, we review its calculation and use in P. falciparum malaria research, as well as the parasite and host factors that impact it. We also provide examples of metrics that can help to link within-host dynamics to malaria clinical outcomes when used alongside the PMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bénédicte Gnangnon
- Center for Communicable Diseases Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Immunology & Infectious Diseases Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Immunology & Infectious Diseases Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caroline O Buckee
- Center for Communicable Diseases Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Qi Y, Zhang Y, Zheng G, Chen B, Zhang M, Li J, Peng T, Huang J, Wang X. In Vivo and In Vitro Genome-Wide Profiling of RNA Secondary Structures Reveals Key Regulatory Features in Plasmodium falciparum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:673966. [PMID: 34079769 PMCID: PMC8166286 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.673966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely accepted that the structure of RNA plays important roles in a number of biological processes, such as polyadenylation, splicing, and catalytic functions. Dynamic changes in RNA structure are able to regulate the gene expression programme and can be used as a highly specific and subtle mechanism for governing cellular processes. However, the nature of most RNA secondary structures in Plasmodium falciparum has not been determined. To investigate the genome-wide RNA secondary structural features at single-nucleotide resolution in P. falciparum, we applied a novel high-throughput method utilizing the chemical modification of RNA structures to characterize these structures. Structural data from parasites are in close agreement with the known 18S ribosomal RNA secondary structures of P. falciparum and can help to predict the in vivo RNA secondary structure of a total of 3,396 transcripts in the ring-stage and trophozoite-stage developmental cycles. By parallel analysis of RNA structures in vivo and in vitro during the Plasmodium parasite ring-stage and trophozoite-stage intraerythrocytic developmental cycles, we identified some key regulatory features. Recent studies have established that the RNA structure is a ubiquitous and fundamental regulator of gene expression. Our study indicate that there is a critical connection between RNA secondary structure and mRNA abundance during the complex biological programme of P. falciparum. This work presents a useful framework and important results, which may facilitate further research investigating the interactions between RNA secondary structure and the complex biological programme in P. falciparum. The RNA secondary structure characterized in this study has potential applications and important implications regarding the identification of RNA structural elements, which are important for parasite infection and elucidating host-parasite interactions and parasites in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Qi
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhong Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guixing Zheng
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bingxia Chen
- The Third Clinical School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengxin Zhang
- The Third Clinical School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinhua Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Shi X, Wei M, Xu Z, Liu Y, Zhang M, Lv L, Wang Q. Vitamin C Inhibits Blood-Stage Plasmodium Parasites via Oxidative Stress. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:639944. [PMID: 34046404 PMCID: PMC8144511 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.639944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
During the Plasmodium erythrocytic cycle, glucose is taken up by glucose transporters (GLUTs) in red blood cells (RBCs) and supplied to parasites via the Plasmodium hexose transporter. Here, we demonstrate that the glucose uptake pathway in infected RBCs (iRBCs) can be hijacked by vitamin C (Vc). GLUTs preferentially transport the oxidized form of Vc, which is subsequently reduced in the cytosol. Vc, which is expected to burden the intracellular reducing capacity, inhibits Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum growth. Vc uptake is drastically increased in iRBCs, with a large proportion entering parasites. Increased absorption of Vc causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species, reduced ATP production, and elevated eryptosis in iRBCs and apoptosis in parasites. The level of oxidative stress induced by Vc is significantly higher in iRBCs than uninfected RBCs, not seen in chloroquine or artemisinin-treated iRBCs, and effective in inhibiting chloroquine or artemisinin-resistant parasites. These findings provide important insights into the drug sensitivity of Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Shi
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Meng Wei
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zihao Xu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mujia Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Li Lv
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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50
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Zilberstein D. Lysosome Sensing Is a Key Mechanism in Leishmania Intracellular Development. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:667807. [PMID: 34025623 PMCID: PMC8137843 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.667807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Phagolysosomes of macrophages are the niche where the parasitic protozoan Leishmania resides and causes human leishmaniasis. During infection, this organism encounters dramatic environmental changes. These include heat shock (from 26°C in the vector to 33°C or 37°C in the host, for cutaneous and visceral species, respectively) and acidic pH typical to the lysosome and nutrient availability. Leishmania cells developed ways to sense the lysosome-specific environment (acidic pH and body temperature) as means of recognition and, subsequently, initiation of differentiation into the intracellular form. Recent studies have indicated that protein kinase A plays a role as the gatekeeper that enables differentiation initiation. This review provides an update on the lysosome signaling pathway-mediated Leishmania intracellular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zilberstein
- Faculty of Biology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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