1
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McConville R, Krol JMM, Steel RWJ, O’Neill MT, Davey BK, Hodder AN, Nebl T, Cowman AF, Kneteman N, Boddey JA. Flp/ FRT-mediated disruption of ptex150 and exp2 in Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites inhibits liver-stage development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403442121. [PMID: 38968107 PMCID: PMC11252984 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403442121] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes severe malaria and assembles a protein translocon (PTEX) complex at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) of infected erythrocytes, through which several hundred proteins are exported to facilitate growth. The preceding liver stage of infection involves growth in a hepatocyte-derived PVM; however, the importance of protein export during P. falciparum liver infection remains unexplored. Here, we use the FlpL/FRT system to conditionally excise genes in P. falciparum sporozoites for functional liver-stage studies. Disruption of PTEX members ptex150 and exp2 did not affect sporozoite development in mosquitoes or infectivity for hepatocytes but attenuated liver-stage growth in humanized mice. While PTEX150 deficiency reduced fitness on day 6 postinfection by 40%, EXP2 deficiency caused 100% loss of liver parasites, demonstrating that PTEX components are required for growth in hepatocytes to differing degrees. To characterize PTEX loss-of-function mutations, we localized four liver-stage Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) proteins. P. falciparum liver specific protein 2 (LISP2), liver-stage antigen 3 (LSA3), circumsporozoite protein (CSP), and a Plasmodium berghei LISP2 reporter all localized to the periphery of P. falciparum liver stages but were not exported beyond the PVM. Expression of LISP2 and CSP but not LSA3 was reduced in ptex150-FRT and exp2-FRT liver stages, suggesting that expression of some PEXEL proteins is affected directly or indirectly by PTEX disruption. These results show that PTEX150 and EXP2 are important for P. falciparum development in hepatocytes and emphasize the emerging complexity of PEXEL protein trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn McConville
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Jelte M. M. Krol
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Ryan W. J. Steel
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Matthew T. O’Neill
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Bethany K. Davey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Anthony N. Hodder
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Thomas Nebl
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Norman Kneteman
- Departments of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, ABT6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Justin A. Boddey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
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2
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Sitaraman R. Subversion from Within and Without: Effector Molecule Transfer from Obligate Intracellular Apicomplexan Parasites to Human Host Cells. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 73:521-535. [PMID: 39242391 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62036-2_20] [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] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular protozoan pathogens have to negotiate the internal environment of the host cell they find themselves in, as well as manipulate the host cell to ensure their own survival, replication, and dissemination. The transfer of key effector molecules from the pathogen to the host cell is crucial to this interaction and is technically more demanding to study as compared to an extracellular pathogen. While several effector molecules have been identified, the mechanisms and conditions underlying their transfer to the host cell remain partly or entirely unknown. Improvements in experimental systems have revealed tantalizing details of such intercellular transfer, which form the subject of this chapter.
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3
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Xie P, Zhang H, Qin Y, Xiong H, Shi C, Zhou Z. Membrane Proteins and Membrane Curvature: Mutual Interactions and a Perspective on Disease Treatments. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1772. [PMID: 38136643 PMCID: PMC10741411 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of various diseases often involves an intricate interplay between membrane proteins and membrane curvature. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of this interaction could offer novel perspectives on disease treatment. In this review, we provide an introduction to membrane curvature and its association with membrane proteins. Furthermore, we delve into the impact and potential implications of this interaction in the context of disease treatment. Lastly, we discuss the prospects and challenges associated with harnessing these interactions for effective disease management, aiming to provide fresh insights into therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zijian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (P.X.); (H.Z.); (Y.Q.); (H.X.); (C.S.)
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4
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Frischknecht F, Enninga J. Actin subversion for productive Plasmodium hepatocyte invasion. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:319-320. [PMID: 36931922 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.003] [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: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Productive invasion of hepatocytes by Plasmodium sporozoites is a key step of infection. The parasites traverse hepatocytes before targeting one of them to form a parasitophorous vacuole for parasite expansion. Schepis et al. show the induction of membrane ruffling via host Rho GTPases by Plasmodium sporozoites facilitating productive invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freddy Frischknecht
- University of Heidelberg Medical School, Center for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and German Center for Infection Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Jost Enninga
- Institut Pasteur, Dynamics of Host-Pathogen Interactions Unit and CNRS UMR3691, Université de Paris Cité, 75724 Paris, France.
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5
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Schepis A, Kumar S, Kappe SHI. Malaria parasites harness Rho GTPase signaling and host cell membrane ruffling for productive invasion of hepatocytes. Cell Rep 2023; 42:111927. [PMID: 36640315 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites are the motile forms of the malaria parasites that infect hepatocytes. The initial invasion of hepatocytes is thought to be actively driven by sporozoites, but host cell processes might also play a role. Sporozoite invasion triggers a host plasma membrane invagination that forms a vacuole around the intracellular parasite, which is critical for subsequent intracellular parasite replication. Using fast live confocal microscopy, we observed that the initial interactions between sporozoites and hepatocytes induce plasma membrane ruffles and filopodia extensions. Importantly, we find that these host cell processes facilitate invasion and that Rho GTPase signaling, which regulates membrane ruffling and filopodia extension, is critical for productive infection. Interestingly, sporozoite cell traversal stimulates these processes, suggesting that it increases hepatocyte susceptibility to productive infection. Our study identifies host cell signaling events involved in plasma membrane dynamics as a critical host component of successful malaria parasite infection of hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Schepis
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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6
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Hussain T, Linera-Gonzalez J, Beck JM, Fierro MA, Mair GR, Smith RC, Beck JR. The PTEX Pore Component EXP2 Is Important for Intrahepatic Development during the Plasmodium Liver Stage. mBio 2022; 13:e0309622. [PMID: 36445080 PMCID: PMC9765067 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03096-22] [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: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate infection, obligate intracellular malaria parasites develop within a parasitophorous vacuole, which constitutes the interface between the parasite and its hepatocyte or erythrocyte host cells. To traverse this barrier, Plasmodium spp. utilize a dual-function pore formed by EXP2 for nutrient transport and, in the context of the PTEX translocon, effector protein export across the vacuole membrane. While critical to blood-stage survival, less is known about EXP2/PTEX function in the liver stage, although major differences in the export mechanism are suggested by absence of the PTEX unfoldase HSP101 in the intrahepatic vacuole. Here, we employed the glucosamine-activated glmS ribozyme to study the role of EXP2 during Plasmodium berghei liver-stage development in hepatoma cells. Insertion of the glmS sequence into the exp2 3' untranslated region (UTR) enabled glucosamine-dependent depletion of EXP2 after hepatocyte invasion, allowing separation of EXP2 function during intrahepatic development from a recently reported role in hepatocyte invasion. Postinvasion EXP2 knockdown reduced parasite size and largely abolished expression of the mid- to late-liver-stage marker LISP2. As an orthogonal approach to monitor development, EXP2-glmS parasites and controls were engineered to express nanoluciferase. Activation of glmS after invasion substantially decreased luminescence in hepatoma monolayers and in culture supernatants at later time points corresponding to merosome detachment, which marks the culmination of liver-stage development. Collectively, our findings extend the utility of the glmS ribozyme to study protein function in the liver stage and reveal that EXP2 is important for intrahepatic parasite development, indicating that PTEX components also function at the hepatocyte-parasite interface. IMPORTANCE After the mosquito bite that initiates a Plasmodium infection, parasites first travel to the liver and develop in hepatocytes. This liver stage is asymptomatic but necessary for the parasite to transition to the merozoite form, which infects red blood cells and causes malaria. To take over their host cells, avoid immune defenses, and fuel their growth, these obligately intracellular parasites must import nutrients and export effector proteins across a vacuole membrane in which they reside. In the blood stage, these processes depend on a translocon called PTEX, but it is unclear if PTEX also functions during the liver stage. Here, we adapted the glmS ribozyme to control expression of EXP2, the membrane pore component of PTEX, during the liver stage of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Our results show that EXP2 is important for intracellular development in the hepatocyte, revealing that PTEX components are also functionally important during liver-stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir Hussain
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - John M. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Manuel A. Fierro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Gunnar R. Mair
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Ryan C. Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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7
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van der Boor SC, van Gemert GJ, Hanssen AEJ, van Waardenburg YM, McCall MBB, Bousema T, de Wilt JHW, Sauerwein RW, Yang ASP. Mid-Liver Stage Arrest of Plasmodium falciparum Schizonts in Primary Porcine Hepatocytes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:834850. [PMID: 35252038 PMCID: PMC8892583 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.834850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During co-evolution Plasmodium parasites and vertebrates went through a process of selection resulting in defined and preferred parasite-host combinations. As such, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites can infect human hepatocytes while seemingly incompatible with host cellular machinery of other species. The compatibility between parasite invasion ligands and their respective human hepatocyte receptors plays a key role in Pf host selectivity. However, it is unclear whether the ability of Pf sporozoites to mature in cross-species infection also plays a role in host tropism. Here we used fresh hepatocytes isolated from porcine livers to study permissiveness to Pf sporozoite invasion and development. We monitored intra-hepatic development via immunofluorescence using anti-HSP70, MSP1, EXP1, and EXP2 antibodies. Our data shows that Pf sporozoites can invade non-human hepatocytes and undergo partial maturation with a significant decrease in schizont numbers between day three and day five. A possible explanation is that Pf sporozoites fail to form a parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) during invasion. Indeed, the observed aberrant EXP1 and EXP2 staining supports the presence of an atypical PVM. Functions of the PVM include the transport of nutrients, export of waste, and offering a protective barrier against intracellular host effectors. Therefore, an atypical PVM likely results in deficiencies that may detrimentally impact parasite development at multiple levels. In summary, despite successful invasion of porcine hepatocytes, Pf development arrests at mid-stage, possibly due to an inability to mobilize critical nutrients across the PVM. These findings underscore the potential of a porcine liver model for understanding the importance of host factors required for Pf mid-liver stage development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia C. van der Boor
- Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Geert-Jan van Gemert
- Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alex E. J. Hanssen
- Animal Research Facility, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Youri M. van Waardenburg
- Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Matthew B. B. McCall
- Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Teun Bousema
- Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Robert W. Sauerwein
- Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Annie S. P. Yang
- Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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8
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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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9
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Garten M, Beck JR. Structured to conquer: transport across the Plasmodium parasitophorous vacuole. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:181-188. [PMID: 34375857 PMCID: PMC8463430 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
During the vertebrate stage of the Plasmodium life cycle, obligate intracellular malaria parasites establish a vacuolar niche for replication, first within host hepatocytes at the pre-patent liver-stage and subsequently in erythrocytes during the pathogenic blood-stage. Survival in this protective microenvironment requires diverse transport mechanisms that enable the parasite to transcend the vacuolar barrier. Effector proteins exported out of the vacuole modify the erythrocyte membrane, increasing access to serum nutrients which then cross the vacuole membrane through a nutrient-permeable channel, supporting rapid parasite growth. This review highlights the most recent insights into the organization of the parasite vacuole to facilitate the solute, lipid and effector protein trafficking that establishes a nutrition pipeline in the terminally differentiated, organelle-free red blood cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Garten
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Josh R Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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10
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Sharma N, Kashif M, Singh V, Fontinha D, Mukherjee B, Kumar D, Singh S, Prudencio M, Singh AP, Rathi B. Novel Antiplasmodial Compounds Leveraged with Multistage Potency against the Parasite Plasmodium falciparum: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations and Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Med Chem 2021; 64:8666-8683. [PMID: 34124905 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hydroxyethylamine (HEA)-based novel compounds were synthesized and their activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 was assessed, identifying a few hits without any apparent toxicity. Hits 5c and 5d also exhibited activity against resistant field strains, PfRKL-9 and PfC580Y. A single dose, 50 mg/Kg, of hits administered to the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei ANKA exhibited up to 70% reduction in the parasite load. Compound 5d tested in combination with artesunate produced an additional antiparasitic effect with a prolonged survival period. Additionally, compound 5d showed 50% inhibition against hepatic P. berghei infection at 1.56 ± 0.56 μM concentration. This compound also considerably delayed the progression of transmission stages, ookinete and oocyst. Furthermore, the toxicity of 5d assessed in mice supported the normal liver and kidney functions. Altogether, HEA analogues (5a-m), particularly 5d, are nontoxic multistage antiplasmodial agents with therapeutic and transmission-blocking efficacy, along with favorable preliminary pharmacokinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Sharma
- Laboratory for Translational Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College University Enclave, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Mohammad Kashif
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Vigyasa Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Diana Fontinha
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, Lisboa 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Budhaditya Mukherjee
- School of Medical Science and Technology, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
| | - Dhruv Kumar
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Miguel Prudencio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, Lisboa 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Agam P Singh
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Brijesh Rathi
- Laboratory for Translational Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College University Enclave, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
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11
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Real E, Howick VM, Dahalan FA, Witmer K, Cudini J, Andradi-Brown C, Blight J, Davidson MS, Dogga SK, Reid AJ, Baum J, Lawniczak MKN. A single-cell atlas of Plasmodium falciparum transmission through the mosquito. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3196. [PMID: 34045457 PMCID: PMC8159942 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23434-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites have a complex life cycle featuring diverse developmental strategies, each uniquely adapted to navigate specific host environments. Here we use single-cell transcriptomics to illuminate gene usage across the transmission cycle of the most virulent agent of human malaria - Plasmodium falciparum. We reveal developmental trajectories associated with the colonization of the mosquito midgut and salivary glands and elucidate the transcriptional signatures of each transmissible stage. Additionally, we identify both conserved and non-conserved gene usage between human and rodent parasites, which point to both essential mechanisms in malaria transmission and species-specific adaptations potentially linked to host tropism. Together, the data presented here, which are made freely available via an interactive website, provide a fine-grained atlas that enables intensive investigation of the P. falciparum transcriptional journey. As well as providing insights into gene function across the transmission cycle, the atlas opens the door for identification of drug and vaccine targets to stop malaria transmission and thereby prevent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Real
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Virginia M Howick
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Farah A Dahalan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Kathrin Witmer
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Juliana Cudini
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Clare Andradi-Brown
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Joshua Blight
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mira S Davidson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sunil Kumar Dogga
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Adam J Reid
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Mara K N Lawniczak
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
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12
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Abstract
Obligate intracellular malaria parasites reside within a vacuolar compartment generated during invasion which is the principal interface between pathogen and host. To subvert their host cell and support their metabolism, these parasites coordinate a range of transport activities at this membrane interface that are critically important to parasite survival and virulence, including nutrient import, waste efflux, effector protein export, and uptake of host cell cytosol. Here, we review our current understanding of the transport mechanisms acting at the malaria parasite vacuole during the blood and liver-stages of development with a particular focus on recent advances in our understanding of effector protein translocation into the host cell by the Plasmodium Translocon of EXported proteins (PTEX) and small molecule transport by the PTEX membrane-spanning pore EXP2. Comparison to Toxoplasma gondii and other related apicomplexans is provided to highlight how similar and divergent mechanisms are employed to fulfill analogous transport activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Chi-Min Ho
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
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13
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Arredondo SA, Schepis A, Reynolds L, Kappe SHI. Secretory Organelle Function in the Plasmodium Sporozoite. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:651-663. [PMID: 33589364 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites exhibit a complex infection biology in the mosquito and mammalian hosts. The sporozoite apical secretory organelles, the micronemes and rhoptries, store protein mediators of parasite/host/vector interactions and must secrete them in a temporally and spatially well orchestrated manner. Micronemal proteins are critical for sporozoite motility throughout its journey from the mosquito midgut oocyst to the mammalian liver, and also for cell traversal (CT) and hepatocyte invasion. Rhoptry proteins, until recently thought to be only important for hepatocyte invasion, appear to also play an unexpected role in motility and in the interaction with mosquito tissue. Therefore, navigating the different microenvironments with secretion likely requires the sporozoite to have a more complex system of secretory organelles than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia A Arredondo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Antonino Schepis
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Laura Reynolds
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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