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Hanada T, Empitu MA, Mines GI, Ma Q, Omorodion IL, Link A, Schwake CJ, Krueger RM, DaRosa NS, Levin AE, Vannier E, Chishti AH. Identification of Babesia microti immunoreactive antigens by phage display cDNA screen. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0021524. [PMID: 38884473 PMCID: PMC11238553 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00215-24] [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: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis is a malaria-like illness caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Babesia microti is responsible for most cases of human babesiosis in the United States, particularly in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. Babesia microti is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected deer ticks but also through the transfusion of blood components, particularly red blood cells. There is a high risk of severe and even fatal disease in immunocompromised patients. To date, serology testing relies on an indirect immunofluorescence assay that uses the whole Babesia microti antigen. Here, we report the construction of phage display cDNA libraries from Babesia microti-infected erythrocytes as well as human reticulocytes obtained from donors with hereditary hemochromatosis. Plasma samples were obtained from patients who were or had been infected with Babesia microti. The non-specific antibody reactivity of these plasma samples was minimized by pre-exposure to the human reticulocyte library. Using this novel experimental strategy, immunoreactive segments were identified in three Babesia microti antigens termed BmSA1 (also called BMN1-9; BmGPI12), BMN1-20 (BMN1-17; Bm32), and BM4.12 (N1-15). Moreover, our findings indicate that the major immunoreactive segment of BmSA1 does not overlap with the segment that mediates BmSA1 binding to mature erythrocytes. When used in combination, the three immunoreactive segments form the basis of a sensitive and comprehensive diagnostic immunoassay for human babesiosis, with implications for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Hanada
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maulana A. Empitu
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Pharmacology and Drug Development, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregory I. Mines
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Qianni Ma
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Pharmacology and Drug Development, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Iziegbe L. Omorodion
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Pharmacology and Drug Development, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ansel Link
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher J. Schwake
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel M. Krueger
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicholas S. DaRosa
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Edouard Vannier
- Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Athar H. Chishti
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Pharmacology and Drug Development, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Molecular Microbiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Zhou X, Zhang Q, Chen JH, Dai JF, Kassegne K. Revisiting the antigen markers of vector-borne parasitic diseases identified by immunomics: identification and application to disease control. Expert Rev Proteomics 2024; 21:205-216. [PMID: 38584506 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2024.2336994] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Protein microarray is a promising immunomic approach for identifying biomarkers. Based on our previous study that reviewed parasite antigens and recent parasitic omics research, this article expands to include information on vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs), namely, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis. AREAS COVERED We revisit and systematically summarize antigen markers of vector-borne parasites identified by the immunomic approach and discuss the latest advances in identifying antigens for the rational development of diagnostics and vaccines. The applications and challenges of this approach for VBPD control are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION The immunomic approach has enabled the identification and/or validation of antigen markers for vaccine development, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and treatment. However, this approach presents several challenges, including limited sample size, variability in antigen expression, false-positive results, complexity of omics data, validation and reproducibility, and heterogeneity of diseases. In addition, antigen involvement in host immune evasion and antigen sensitivity/specificity are major issues in its application. Despite these limitations, this approach remains promising for controlling VBPD. Advances in technology and data analysis methods should continue to improve candidate antigen identification, as well as the use of a multiantigen approach in diagnostic and vaccine development for VBPD control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun-Hu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Hainan Tropical Diseases Research Center (Hainan Sub-Center, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Haikou, China
| | - Jian-Feng Dai
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kokouvi Kassegne
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Moss WJ, Brusini L, Kuehnel R, Brochet M, Brown KM. Apicomplexan phosphodiesterases in cyclic nucleotide turnover: conservation, function, and therapeutic potential. mBio 2024; 15:e0305623. [PMID: 38132724 PMCID: PMC10865986 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03056-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexa encompasses a large number of intracellular parasites infecting a wide range of animals. Cyclic nucleotide signaling is crucial for a variety of apicomplexan life stages and cellular processes. The cyclases and kinases that synthesize and respond to cyclic nucleotides (i.e., 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate and 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate) are highly conserved and essential throughout the parasite phylum. Growing evidence indicates that phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are also critical for regulating cyclic nucleotide signaling via cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis. Here, we discuss recent advances in apicomplexan PDE biology and opportunities for therapeutic interventions, with special emphasis on the major human apicomplexan parasite genera Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, and Babesia. In particular, we show a highly flexible repertoire of apicomplexan PDEs associated with a wide range of cellular requirements across parasites and lifecycle stages. Despite this phylogenetic diversity, cellular requirements of apicomplexan PDEs for motility, host cell egress, or invasion are conserved. However, the molecular wiring of associated PDEs is extremely malleable suggesting that PDE diversity and redundancy are key for the optimization of cyclic nucleotide turnover to respond to the various environments encountered by each parasite and life stage. Understanding how apicomplexan PDEs are regulated and integrating multiple signaling systems into a unified response represent an untapped avenue for future exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Moss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ronja Kuehnel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kevin M. Brown
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
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Drews SJ, Kjemtrup AM, Krause PJ, Lambert G, Leiby DA, Lewin A, O'Brien SF, Renaud C, Tonnetti L, Bloch EM. Transfusion-transmitted Babesia spp.: a changing landscape of epidemiology, regulation, and risk mitigation. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0126822. [PMID: 37750699 PMCID: PMC10595070 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01268-22] [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: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans, vectors, and vertebrate hosts and change the epidemiology of Babesia. Although humans are dead-end hosts for tick-transmitted Babesia, human-to-human transmission of Babesia spp. from transfusion of red blood cells and whole blood-derived platelet concentrates has been reported. In most patients, transfusion-transmitted Babesia (TTB) results in a moderate-to-severe illness. Currently, in North America, most cases of TTB have been described in the United States. TTB cases outside North America are rare, but case numbers may change over time with increased recognition of babesiosis and as the epidemiology of Babesia is impacted by climate change. Therefore, TTB is a concern of microbiologists working in blood operator settings, as well as in clinical settings where transfusion occurs. Microbiologists play an important role in deploying blood donor screening assays in Babesia endemic regions, identifying changing risks for Babesia in non-endemic areas, investigating recipients of blood products for TTB, and drafting TTB policies and guidelines. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical presentation and epidemiology of TTB. We identify approaches and technologies to reduce the risk of collecting blood products from Babesia-infected donors and describe how investigations of TTB are undertaken. We also describe how microbiologists in Babesia non-endemic regions can assess for changing risks of TTB and decide when to focus on laboratory-test-based approaches or pathogen reduction to reduce TTB risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Drews
- Microbiology, Donation Policy and Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anne M. Kjemtrup
- California Department of Public Health, Vector-Borne Disease Section, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Peter J. Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Grayson Lambert
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David A. Leiby
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, USA
| | - Antoine Lewin
- Epidemiology, Surveillance and Biological Risk Assessment, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Département d'Obstétrique et de Gynécologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sheila F. O'Brien
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Donation Policy and Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christian Renaud
- Department of Microbiology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laura Tonnetti
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Holland Laboratories for the Biomedical Sciences, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Evan M. Bloch
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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5
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Meredith S, Majam V, Zheng H, Verma N, Puri A, Akue A, KuKuruga M, Oakley M, Kumar S. Protective efficacy and correlates of immunity of immunodominant recombinant Babesia microti antigens. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0016223. [PMID: 37728332 PMCID: PMC10580920 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00162-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia microti, an intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasite, is the primary causative agent of human babesiosis and an emerging threat to public health in the United States and elsewhere. An effective vaccine against B. microti would reduce disease severity in acute babesiosis patients and shorten the parasitemic period in asymptomatic individuals, thereby minimizing the risk of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis. Here we report on immunogenicity, protective efficacy, and correlates of immunity following immunization with four immunodominant recombinantly produced B. microti antigens-Serine Reactive Antigen 1 (SERA1), Maltese Cross Form Related Protein 1 (MCFRP1), Piroplasm β-Strand Domain 1 (PiβS1), and Babesia microti Alpha Helical Cell Surface Protein 1 (BAHCS1)-delivered subcutaneously in Montanide ISA 51/CpG adjuvant in three doses to BALB/c mice. Following B. microti parasite challenge, BAHCS1 led to the highest reduction in peak parasitemia (67.8%), followed by SERA1 (44.8%) and MCFRP1 (41.9%); PiβS1 (27.6%) had minimal protective effect. All four B. microti antigens induced high ELISA total IgG and each isotype; however, antibody levels did not directly correlate with anti-parasitic activity in mice. Increased prechallenge levels of some cell populations including follicular helper T cells (TFH) and memory B cells, along with a set of six cytokines [IL-1α, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-12(p40), and G-CSF] that belong to both innate and adaptive immune responses, were generally associated with protective immunity. Our results indicate that mechanisms driving recombinant B. microti antigen-induced immunity are complex and multifactorial. We think that BAHCS1 warrants further evaluation in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Meredith
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Victoria Majam
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Hong Zheng
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Nitin Verma
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Ankit Puri
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Adovi Akue
- Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark KuKuruga
- Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Miranda Oakley
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Sanjai Kumar
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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6
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Si W, Fang C, Liu C, Yin M, Xu W, Li Y, Yan X, Shen Y, Cao J, Sun J. Why is Babesia not killed by artemisinin like Plasmodium? Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:193. [PMID: 37291657 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05783-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexans that digest and utilize red blood cells in a similar way to intraerythrocytic Plasmodium spp., but unlike the latter, are not sensitive to artemisinin. A comparison of Babesia and Plasmodium genomes revealed that Babesia genomes, which are smaller than those of Plasmodium, lack numerous genes, and especially haem synthesis-related genes, that are found in the latter. Single-cell sequencing analysis showed that the different treatment groups of Babesia microti with expressed pentose phosphate pathway-related, DNA replication-related, antioxidation-related, glycolysis-related, and glutathione-related genes were not as sensitive to artemether as Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL. In particular, pentose phosphate pathway-related, DNA replication-related, and glutathione-related genes, which were actively expressed in P. yoelii 17XNL, were not actively expressed in B. microti. Supplying iron in vivo can promote the reproduction of B. microti. These results suggest that Babesia spp. lack a similar mechanism to that of malaria parasites through which the haem or iron in hemoglobin is utilized, and that this likely leads to their insensitivity to artemisinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Si
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuantao Fang
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth peoples hospital of Tongji university, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuang Liu
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Yin
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanna Li
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoli Yan
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujuan Shen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Cao
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Sun
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Elsworth B, Keroack C, Rezvani Y, Paul A, Barazorda K, Tennessen J, Sack S, Moreira C, Gubbels MJ, Meyers M, Zarringhalam K, Duraisingh M. Babesia divergens egress from host cells is orchestrated by essential and druggable kinases and proteases. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2553721. [PMID: 36909484 PMCID: PMC10002801 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2553721/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan egress from host cells is fundamental to the spread of infection and is poorly characterized in Babesia spp., parasites of veterinary importance and emerging zoonoses. Through the use of video microscopy, transcriptomics and chemical genetics, we have implicated signaling, proteases and gliding motility as key drivers of egress by Babesia divergens. We developed reverse genetics to perform a knockdown screen of putative mediators of egress, identifying kinases and proteases involved in distinct steps of egress (ASP3, PKG and CDPK4) and invasion (ASP2, ASP3 and PKG). Inhibition of egress leads to continued intracellular replication, indicating exit from the replication cycle is uncoupled from egress. Chemical genetics validated PKG, ASP2 and ASP3 as druggable targets in Babesia spp. All taken together, egress in B. divergens more closely resembles T. gondii than the more evolutionarily-related Plasmodium spp. We have established a molecular framework for biological and translational studies of B. divergens egress.
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8
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Advances in Babesia Vaccine Development: An Overview. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020300. [PMID: 36839572 PMCID: PMC9962624 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne zoonotic disease, which is caused by various species of intracellular Babesia parasite. It is a problem not only for the livestock industry but also for global health. Significant global economic losses, in particular in cattle production, have been observed. Since the current preventive measures against babesiosis are insufficient, there is increasing pressure to develop a vaccine. In this review, we survey the achievements and recent advances in the creation of antibabesiosis vaccine. The scope of this review includes the development of a vaccine against B. microti, B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. orientalis and B. divergens. Here, we present different strategies in their progress and evaluation. Scientists worldwide are still trying to find new targets for a vaccine that would not only reduce symptoms among animals but also prevent the further spread of the disease. Molecular candidates for the production of a vaccine against various Babesia spp. are presented. Our study also describes the current prospects of vaccine evolution for successful Babesia parasites elimination.
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Kumar A, Kabra A, Igarashi I, Krause PJ. Animal models of the immunology and pathogenesis of human babesiosis. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:38-52. [PMID: 36470781 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Animal models of human babesiosis have provided a basic understanding of the immunological mechanisms that clear, or occasionally exacerbate, Babesia infection and those pathological processes that cause disease complications. Human Babesia infection can cause asymptomatic infection, mild to moderate disease, or severe disease resulting in organ dysfunction and death. More than 100 Babesia species infect a wide array of wild and domestic animals, and many of the immunologic and pathologic responses to Babesia infection are similar in animals and humans. In this review, we summarize the knowledge gained from animal studies, their limitations, and how animal models or alternative approaches can be further leveraged to improve our understanding of human babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Kumar
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Aditya Kabra
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Ikuo Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Peter J Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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10
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Chand M, Choi JY, Pal AC, Singh P, Kumari V, Thekkiniath J, Gagnon J, Timalsina S, Gaur G, Williams S, Ledizet M, Mamoun CB. Epitope profiling of monoclonal antibodies to the immunodominant antigen BmGPI12 of the human pathogen Babesia microti. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1039197. [PMID: 36506011 PMCID: PMC9732259 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1039197] [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: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The significant rise in the number of tick-borne diseases represents a major threat to public health worldwide. One such emerging disease is human babesiosis, which is caused by several protozoan parasites of the Babesia genus of which B. microti is responsible for most clinical cases reported to date. Recent studies have shown that during its intraerythrocytic life cycle, B. microti exports several antigens into the mammalian host using a novel vesicular-mediated secretion mechanism. One of these secreted proteins is the immunodominant antigen BmGPI12, which has been demonstrated to be a reliable biomarker of active B. microti infection. The major immunogenic determinants of this antigen remain unknown. Here we provide a comprehensive molecular and serological characterization of a set of eighteen monoclonal antibodies developed against BmGPI12 and a detailed profile of their binding specificity and suitability in the detection of active B. microti infection. Serological profiling and competition assays using synthetic peptides identified five unique epitopes on the surface of BmGPI12 which are recognized by a set of eight monoclonal antibodies. ELISA-based antigen detection assays identified five antibody combinations that specifically detect the secreted form of BmGPI12 in plasma samples from B. microti-infected mice and humans but not from other Babesia species or P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenal Chand
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jae-Yeon Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Anasuya C. Pal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Pallavi Singh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Vandana Kumari
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jose Thekkiniath
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | | | - Gauri Gaur
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Scott Williams
- Department of Forestry and Horticulture, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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11
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Guo J, Yang F, Wang L, Xuan X, Zhao J, He L. A novel promising diagnostic candidate selected by screening the transcriptome of Babesia gibsoni (Wuhan isolate) asexual stages in infected beagles. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:362. [PMID: 36217160 PMCID: PMC9549657 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05468-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Babesia gibsoni is one of the causative agents of canine babesiosis worldwide. Some dogs infected with B. gibsoni show severe clinical signs with progressive anemia, hemoglobinuria and splenomegaly. However, most infected dogs present a state of chronic infection and thereby may be a persistent pathogen carrier, increasing the risk of pathogen spreading. To date, little is known about this pathogen, with genomic and transcriptomic data in particular generally unavailable. This lack of knowledge extensively limits the development of effective diagnostic strategies and vaccines. METHODS High-throughput RNA sequencing of total RNA of B. gibsoni asexual stages collected from infected beagles was performed. The unigenes were annotated in seven databases. The genes were sorted according to their fragments per kilobase per million (FPKM) value, which was used as an indicator for expression level. The gene with the highest FPKM value was cloned from the genome of B. gibsoni and further tested for immunogenicity, cellular localization and efficacy as a potential diagnostic candidate for detecting B. gibsoni in sera collected from beagles. RESULTS A total of 62,580,653 clean reads were screened from the 64,336,475 raw reads, and the corresponding 70,134 transcripts and 36,587 unigenes were obtained. The gene with the highest FPKM value was screened from the unigenes; its full length was 1276 bp, and it was named BgP30. The BgP30 gene comprised three exons and two introns, with a 786-bp open reading frame, and encoded 261 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 30 kDa. The cellular localization assay confirmed the existence of P30 protein in B. gibsoni parasites. Moreover, P30 was detected in the serum of experimentally B. gibsoni-infected beagles, from 15 days up to 422 days post-infection, suggesting its usefulness as a diagnostic candidate for both acute and chronic infections. CONCLUSIONS We sequenced the transcriptome of B. gibsoni asexual stages for the first time. The BgP30 gene was highly expressed in the transcriptome screening experiments, with further studies demonstrating that it could induce immune response in B. gibsoni-infected dogs. These results lead us to suggest that bgP30 may be a good diagnostic candidate marker to detect both acute and chronic B. gibsoni infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150000, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Furong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Lingna Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China. .,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.
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12
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Rezvani Y, Keroack CD, Elsworth B, Arriojas A, Gubbels MJ, Duraisingh MT, Zarringhalam K. Comparative single-cell transcriptional atlases of Babesia species reveal conserved and species-specific expression profiles. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001816. [PMID: 36137068 PMCID: PMC9531838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that infect red blood cells in vertebrate hosts. Pathology occurs during rapid replication cycles in the asexual blood stage of infection. Current knowledge of Babesia replication cycle progression and regulation is limited and relies mostly on comparative studies with related parasites. Due to limitations in synchronizing Babesia parasites, fine-scale time-course transcriptomic resources are not readily available. Single-cell transcriptomics provides a powerful unbiased alternative for profiling asynchronous cell populations. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing to 3 Babesia species (B. divergens, B. bovis, and B. bigemina). We used analytical approaches and algorithms to map the replication cycle and construct pseudo-synchronized time-course gene expression profiles. We identify clusters of co-expressed genes showing "just-in-time" expression profiles, with gradually cascading peaks throughout asexual development. Moreover, clustering analysis of reconstructed gene curves reveals coordinated timing of peak expression in epigenetic markers and transcription factors. Using a regularized Gaussian graphical model, we reconstructed co-expression networks and identified conserved and species-specific nodes. Motif analysis of a co-expression interactome of AP2 transcription factors identified specific motifs previously reported to play a role in DNA replication in Plasmodium species. Finally, we present an interactive web application to visualize and interactively explore the datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Rezvani
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Caroline D. Keroack
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Brendan Elsworth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Argenis Arriojas
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marc-Jan Gubbels
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Manoj T. Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MTD); (KZ)
| | - Kourosh Zarringhalam
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MTD); (KZ)
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13
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Gagnon J, Timalsina S, Choi JY, Chand M, Singh P, Lamba P, Gaur G, Pal AC, Mootien S, Marcos LA, Ben Mamoun C, Ledizet M. Specific and Sensitive Diagnosis of Babesia microti Active Infection Using Monoclonal Antibodies to the Immunodominant Antigen BmGPI12. J Clin Microbiol 2022; 60:e0092522. [PMID: 36040206 PMCID: PMC9491189 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00925-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The apicomplexan pathogen Babesia microti is responsible for most cases of human babesiosis worldwide. The disease, which presents as a malaria-like illness, is potentially fatal in immunocompromised or elderly patients, making the need for its accurate and early diagnosis an urgent public health concern. B. microti is transmitted primarily by Ixodes ticks but can also be transmitted via blood transfusion. The parasite completes its asexual reproduction in the host red blood cell, where each invading merozoite develops and multiplies to produce four daughter parasites. While various techniques, such as microscopy, PCR, and indirect fluorescence, have been used over the years for babesiosis diagnosis, detection of the secreted B. microti immunodominant antigen BmGPI12 using specific polyclonal antibodies was found to be the most effective method for the diagnosis of active infection and for evaluation of clearance following drug treatment. Here, we report the development of a panel of 16 monoclonal antibodies against BmGPI12. These antibodies detected secreted BmGPI12 in the plasma of infected humans. Antigen capture assays identified a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, 4C8 and 1E11, as a basis for a monoclonal antibody-based BmGPI12 capture assay (mGPAC) to detect active B. microti infection. Using a collection of 105 previously characterized human plasma samples, the mGPAC assay showed 97.1% correlation with RNA-based PCR (transcription-mediated amplification [TMA]) for positive and negative samples. The mGPAC assay also detected BmGPI12 in the plasma of six babesiosis patients at the time of diagnosis but not in three matched posttreatment samples. The mGPAC assay could thus be used alone or in combination with other assays for accurate detection of active B. microti infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jae-Yeon Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicinegrid.471390.8, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Meenal Chand
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicinegrid.471390.8, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Pallavi Singh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicinegrid.471390.8, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Pooja Lamba
- Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Gauri Gaur
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anasuya C. Pal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicinegrid.471390.8, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sara Mootien
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Luis A. Marcos
- Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicinegrid.471390.8, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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14
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Al-Nazal H, Low L, Kumar S, Good MF, Stanisic DI. A vaccine for human babesiosis: prospects and feasibility. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:904-918. [PMID: 35933301 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.07.005] [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: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites. It is a well-known illness in companion animals and livestock, resulting in substantial economic losses in the cattle industry. Babesiosis is also recognized as an emerging zoonosis of humans in many countries worldwide. There is no vaccine against human babesiosis. Currently, preventive measures are focused on vector avoidance. Although not always effective, treatment includes antimicrobial therapy and exchange transfusion. In this review, we discuss the host's immune response to the parasite, vaccines being used to prevent babesiosis in animals, and lessons from malaria vaccine development efforts to inform the development of a human babesiosis vaccine. An effective human vaccine would be a significant advance towards curtailing this rapidly emerging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Al-Nazal
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leanne Low
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Sanjai Kumar
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Michael F Good
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Danielle I Stanisic
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia.
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15
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Wang J, Chen K, Yang J, Zhang S, Li Y, Liu G, Luo J, Yin H, Wang G, Guan G. Comparative genomic analysis of Babesia duncani responsible for human babesiosis. BMC Biol 2022; 20:153. [PMID: 35790982 PMCID: PMC9258201 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01361-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human babesiosis, caused by parasites of the genus Babesia, is an emerging and re-emerging tick-borne disease that is mainly transmitted by tick bites and infected blood transfusion. Babesia duncani has caused majority of human babesiosis in Canada; however, limited data are available to correlate its genomic information and biological features. Results We generated a B. duncani reference genome using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) and Illumina sequencing technology and uncovered its biological features and phylogenetic relationship with other Apicomplexa parasites. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that B. duncani form a clade distinct from B. microti, Babesia spp. infective to bovine and ovine species, and Theileria spp. infective to bovines. We identified the largest species-specific gene family that could be applied as diagnostic markers for this pathogen. In addition, two gene families show signals of significant expansion and several genes that present signatures of positive selection in B. duncani, suggesting their possible roles in the capability of this parasite to infect humans or tick vectors. Conclusions Using ONT sequencing and Illumina sequencing technologies, we provide the first B. duncani reference genome and confirm that B. duncani forms a phylogenetically distinct clade from other Piroplasm parasites. Comparative genomic analyses show that two gene families are significantly expanded in B. duncani and may play important roles in host cell invasion and virulence of B. duncani. Our study provides basic information for further exploring B. duncani features, such as host-parasite and tick-parasite interactions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01361-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.
| | - Kai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jifei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Shangdi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Youquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Guangying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.
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16
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Tagliafierro T, Joshi S, Sameroff S, Marques A, Dumler JS, Mishra N, Sanchez-Vicente S, Wormser GP, Marcos LA, Lipkin WI, Tokarz R. Detection of antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti using linear peptides. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101999. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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17
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Singh P, Pal AC, Mamoun CB. An Alternative Culture Medium for Continuous In Vitro Propagation of the Human Pathogen Babesia duncani in Human Erythrocytes. Pathogens 2022; 11:599. [PMID: 35631120 PMCID: PMC9146245 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Continuous propagation of Babesia duncani in vitro in human erythrocytes and the availability of a mouse model of B. duncani lethal infection make this parasite an ideal model to study Babesia biology and pathogenesis. Two culture media, HL-1 and Claycomb, with proprietary formulations are the only culture media known to support the parasite growth in human erythrocytes; however, the HL-1 medium has been discontinued and the Claycomb medium is often unavailable leading to major interruptions in the study of this pathogen. To identify alternative media conditions, we evaluated the growth of B. duncani in various culture media with well-defined compositions. We report that the DMEM-F12 culture medium supports the continuous growth of the parasite in human erythrocytes to levels equal to those achieved in the HL-1 and Claycomb media. We generated new clones of B. duncani from the parental WA-1 clinical isolate after three consecutive subcloning events in this medium. All clones showed a multiplication rate in vitro similar to that of the WA-1 parental isolate and cause fatal infection in C3H/HeJ mice. The culture medium, which can be readily reconstituted from its individual components, and the tools and resources developed here will facilitate the study of B. duncani.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; (P.S.); (A.C.P.)
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18
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Delbecq S. Major Surface Antigens in Zoonotic Babesia. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11010099. [PMID: 35056047 PMCID: PMC8780968 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis results from a combination of tick tropism for humans, susceptibility of a host to sustain Babesia development, and contact with infected ticks. Climate modifications and increasing diagnostics have led to an expanded number of Babesia species responsible for human babesiosis, although, to date, most cases have been attributed to B. microti and B. divergens. These two species have been extensively studied, and in this review, we mostly focus on the antigens involved in host–parasite interactions. We present features of the major antigens, so-called Bd37 in B. divergens and BmSA1/GPI12 in B. microti, and highlight the roles of these antigens in both host cell invasion and immune response. A comparison of these antigens with the major antigens found in some other Apicomplexa species emphasizes the importance of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in host–parasite relationships. GPI-anchor cleavage, which is a property of such antigens, leads to soluble and membrane-bound forms of these proteins, with potentially differential recognition by the host immune system. This mechanism is discussed as the structural basis for the protein-embedded immune escape mechanism. In conclusion, the potential consequences of such a mechanism on the management of both human and animal babesiosis is examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephane Delbecq
- Centre de Biologie Structurale, Faculté de Pharmacie, University of Montpellier, UMR CNRS 5048, 34090 Montpellier, France
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19
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Bastos RG, Alzan HF, Rathinasamy VA, Cooke BM, Dellagostin OA, Barletta RG, Suarez CE. Harnessing Mycobacterium bovis BCG Trained Immunity to Control Human and Bovine Babesiosis. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:123. [PMID: 35062784 PMCID: PMC8781211 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10010123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is a disease caused by tickborne hemoprotozoan apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia that negatively impacts public health and food security worldwide. Development of effective and sustainable vaccines against babesiosis is currently hindered in part by the absence of definitive host correlates of protection. Despite that, studies in Babesia microti and Babesia bovis, major causative agents of human and bovine babesiosis, respectively, suggest that early activation of innate immune responses is crucial for vertebrates to survive acute infection. Trained immunity (TI) is defined as the development of memory in vertebrate innate immune cells, allowing more efficient responses to subsequent specific and non-specific challenges. Considering that Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), a widely used anti-tuberculosis attenuated vaccine, induces strong TI pro-inflammatory responses, we hypothesize that BCG TI may protect vertebrates against acute babesiosis. This premise is supported by early investigations demonstrating that BCG inoculation protects mice against experimental B. microti infection and recent observations that BCG vaccination decreases the severity of malaria in children infected with Plasmodium falciparum, a Babesia-related parasite. We also discuss the potential use of TI in conjunction with recombinant BCG vaccines expressing Babesia immunogens. In conclusion, by concentrating on human and bovine babesiosis, herein we intend to raise awareness of BCG TI as a strategy to efficiently control Babesia infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA;
| | - Heba F. Alzan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA;
- Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Center, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Vignesh A. Rathinasamy
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia; (V.A.R.); (B.M.C.)
| | - Brian M. Cooke
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia; (V.A.R.); (B.M.C.)
| | - Odir A. Dellagostin
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil;
| | - Raúl G. Barletta
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0905, USA;
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA
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20
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Meredith S, Oakley M, Kumar S. Technologies for Detection of Babesia microti: Advances and Challenges. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121563. [PMID: 34959518 PMCID: PMC8703551 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The biology of intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites presents unique challenges for the diagnosis of human babesiosis. Antibody-based assays are highly sensitive but fail to detect early stage Babesia infections prior to seroconversion (window period) and cannot distinguish between an active infection and a previously resolved infection. On the other hand, nucleic acid-based tests (NAT) may lack the sensitivity to detect window cases when parasite burden is below detection limits and asymptomatic low-grade infections. Recent technological advances have improved the sensitivity, specificity and high throughput of NAT and the antibody-based detection of Babesia. Some of these advances include genomics approaches for the identification of novel high-copy-number targets for NAT and immunodominant antigens for superior antigen and antibody-based assays for Babesia. Future advances would also rely on next generation sequencing and CRISPR technology to improve Babesia detection. This review article will discuss the historical perspective and current status of technologies for the detection of Babesia microti, the most common Babesia species causing human babesiosis in the United States, and their implications for early diagnosis of acute babesiosis, blood safety and surveillance studies to monitor areas of expansion and emergence and spread of Babesia species and their genetic variants in the United States and globally.
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21
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Florin-Christensen M, Wieser SN, Suarez CE, Schnittger L. In Silico Survey and Characterization of Babesia microti Functional and Non-Functional Proteases. Pathogens 2021; 10:1457. [PMID: 34832610 PMCID: PMC8621943 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis caused by the intraerythrocytic apicomplexan Babesia microti is an expanding tick-borne zoonotic disease that may cause severe symptoms and death in elderly or immunocompromised individuals. In light of an increasing resistance of B. microti to drugs, there is a lack of therapeutic alternatives. Species-specific proteases are essential for parasite survival and possible chemotherapeutic targets. However, the repertoire of proteases in B. microti remains poorly investigated. Herein, we employed several combined bioinformatics tools and strategies to organize and identify genes encoding for the full repertoire of proteases in the B. microti genome. We identified 64 active proteases and 25 nonactive protease homologs. These proteases can be classified into cysteine (n = 28), serine (n = 21), threonine (n = 14), asparagine (n = 7), and metallopeptidases (n = 19), which, in turn, are assigned to a total of 38 peptidase families. Comparative studies between the repertoire of B. bovis and B. microti proteases revealed differences among sensu stricto and sensu lato Babesia parasites that reflect their distinct evolutionary history. Overall, this data may help direct future research towards our understanding of the biology and pathogenicity of Babesia parasites and to explore proteases as targets for developing novel therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Sarah N. Wieser
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA 99163, USA;
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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22
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The Global Emergence of Human Babesiosis. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111447. [PMID: 34832603 PMCID: PMC8623124 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa that are primarily transmitted by hard-bodied (ixodid) ticks and rarely through blood transfusion, perinatally, and organ transplantation. More than 100 Babesia species infect a wide spectrum of wild and domestic animals worldwide and six have been identified as human pathogens. Babesia microti is the predominant species that infects humans, is found throughout the world, and causes endemic disease in the United States and China. Babesia venatorum and Babesia crassa-like agent also cause endemic disease in China. Babesia divergens is the predominant species in Europe where fulminant cases have been reported sporadically. The number of B. microti infections has been increasing globally in recent decades. In the United States, more than 2000 cases are reported each year, although the actual number is thought to be much higher. In this review of the epidemiology of human babesiosis, we discuss epidemiologic tools used to monitor disease location and frequency; demographics and modes of transmission; the location of human babesiosis; the causative Babesia species in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia; the primary clinical characteristics associated with each of these infections; and the increasing global health burden of this disease.
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Bastos RG, Thekkiniath J, Ben Mamoun C, Fuller L, Molestina RE, Florin-Christensen M, Schnittger L, Alzan HF, Suarez CE. Babesia microti Immunoreactive Rhoptry-Associated Protein-1 Paralogs Are Ancestral Members of the Piroplasmid-Confined RAP-1 Family. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111384. [PMID: 34832541 PMCID: PMC8624774 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia, Cytauxzoon and Theileria are tick-borne apicomplexan parasites of the order Piroplasmida, responsible for diseases in humans and animals. Members of the piroplasmid rhoptry-associated protein-1 (pRAP-1) family have a signature cysteine-rich domain and are important for parasite development. We propose that the closely linked B. microti genes annotated as BMR1_03g00947 and BMR1_03g00960 encode two paralogue pRAP-1-like proteins named BmIPA48 and Bm960. The two genes are tandemly arranged head to tail, highly expressed in blood stage parasites, syntenic to rap-1 genes of other piroplasmids, and share large portions of an almost identical ~225 bp sequence located in their 5' putative regulatory regions. BmIPA48 and Bm960 proteins contain a N-terminal signal peptide, share very low sequence identity (<13%) with pRAP-1 from other species, and harbor one or more transmembrane domains. Diversification of the piroplasmid-confined prap-1 family is characterized by amplification of genes, protein domains, and a high sequence polymorphism. This suggests a functional involvement of pRAP-1 at the parasite-host interface, possibly in parasite adhesion, attachment, and/or evasion of the host immune defenses. Both BmIPA48 and Bm960 are recognized by antibodies in sera from humans infected with B. microti and might be promising candidates for developing novel serodiagnosis and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
- Correspondence: (R.G.B.); (C.E.S.)
| | - Jose Thekkiniath
- Fuller Laboratories, 1312 East Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA; (J.T.); (L.F.)
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Lee Fuller
- Fuller Laboratories, 1312 East Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA; (J.T.); (L.F.)
| | - Robert E. Molestina
- Protistology Laboratory, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA 10801, USA;
| | - Monica Florin-Christensen
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina; (M.F.-C.); (L.S.)
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires C1033AAE, Argentina
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina; (M.F.-C.); (L.S.)
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires C1033AAE, Argentina
| | - Heba F. Alzan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
- Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
- Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Research Unit, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural—Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Correspondence: (R.G.B.); (C.E.S.)
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Plasmepsin-like Aspartyl Proteases in Babesia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101241. [PMID: 34684190 PMCID: PMC8540915 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan genomes encode multiple pepsin-family aspartyl proteases (APs) that phylogenetically cluster to six independent clades (A to F). Such diversification has been powered by the function-driven evolution of the ancestral apicomplexan AP gene and is associated with the adaptation of various apicomplexan species to different strategies of host infection and transmission through various invertebrate vectors. To estimate the potential roles of Babesia APs, we performed qRT-PCR-based expressional profiling of Babesia microti APs (BmASP2, 3, 5, 6), which revealed the dynamically changing mRNA levels and indicated the specific roles of individual BmASP isoenzymes throughout the life cycle of this parasite. To expand on the current knowledge on piroplasmid APs, we searched the EuPathDB and NCBI GenBank databases to identify and phylogenetically analyse the complete sets of APs encoded by the genomes of selected Babesia and Theileria species. Our results clearly determine the potential roles of identified APs by their phylogenetic relation to their homologues of known function—Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsins (PfPM I–X) and Toxoplasma gondii aspartyl proteases (TgASP1–7). Due to the analogies with plasmodial plasmepsins, piroplasmid APs represent valuable enzymatic targets that are druggable by small molecule inhibitors—candidate molecules for the yet-missing specific therapy for babesiosis.
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Puri A, Bajpai S, Meredith S, Aravind L, Krause PJ, Kumar S. Babesia microti: Pathogen Genomics, Genetic Variability, Immunodominant Antigens, and Pathogenesis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:697669. [PMID: 34539601 PMCID: PMC8446681 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.697669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 100 Babesia spp. tick-borne parasites are known to infect mammalian and avian hosts. Babesia belong to Order Piroplasmid ranked in the Phylum Apicomplexa. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that of the three genera that constitute Piroplasmida, Babesia and Theileria are polyphyletic while Cytauxzoon is nested within a clade of Theileria. Several Babesia spp. and sub-types have been found to cause human disease. Babesia microti, the most common species that infects humans, is endemic in the Northeastern and upper Midwestern United States and is sporadically reported elsewhere in the world. Most infections are transmitted by Ixodid (hard-bodied) ticks, although they occasionally can be spread through blood transfusion and rarely via perinatal transmission and organ transplantation. Babesiosis most often presents as a mild to moderate disease, however infection severity ranges from asymptomatic to lethal. Diagnosis is usually confirmed by blood smear or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Treatment consists of atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine and usually is effective but may be problematic in immunocompromised hosts. There is no human Babesia vaccine. B. microti genomics studies have only recently been initiated, however they already have yielded important new insights regarding the pathogen, population structure, and pathogenesis. Continued genomic research holds great promise for improving the diagnosis, management, and prevention of human babesiosis, and in particular, the identification of lineage-specific families of cell-surface proteins with potential roles in cytoadherence, immune evasion and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Puri
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Surabhi Bajpai
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, India
| | - Scott Meredith
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - L Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Peter J Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Sanjai Kumar
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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26
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Chiu JE, Renard I, George S, Pal AC, Alday PH, Narasimhan S, Riscoe MK, Doggett JS, Ben Mamoun C. Cytochrome b Drug Resistance Mutation Decreases Babesia Fitness in the Tick Stages But Not the Mammalian Erythrocytic Cycle. J Infect Dis 2021; 225:135-145. [PMID: 34139755 PMCID: PMC8730496 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne malaria-like illness caused by Babesia parasites following their development in erythrocytes. Here, we show that a mutation in the Babesia microti mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) that confers resistance to the antibabesial drug ELQ-502 decreases parasite fitness in the arthropod vector. Interestingly, whereas the mutant allele does not affect B. microti fitness during the mammalian blood phase of the parasite life cycle and is genetically stable as parasite burden increases, ELQ-502-resistant mutant parasites developing in the tick vector are genetically unstable with a high rate of the wild-type allele emerging during the nymphal stage. Furthermore, we show that B. microti parasites with this mutation are transmitted from the tick to the host, raising the possibility that the frequency of Cytb resistance mutations may be decreased by passage through the tick vector, but could persist in the environment if present when ticks feed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy E Chiu
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Isaline Renard
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Santosh George
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anasuya C Pal
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Sukanya Narasimhan
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | | | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Correspondence: Choukri Ben Mamoun, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Microbial Pathogenesis, Section of Infectious Diseases, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520 ()
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Gui Z, Wu L, Cai H, Mu L, Yu JF, Fu SY, Si XY. Genetic diversity analysis of Dermacentor nuttalli within Inner Mongolia, China. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:131. [PMID: 33648549 PMCID: PMC7923491 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04625-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks (Arthropoda, Ixodida), after mosquitoes, are the second most prevalent vector of infectious diseases. They are responsible for spreading a multitude of pathogens and threatening the health and welfare of animals and human beings. However, given the history of tick-borne pathogen infections in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, surprisingly, neither the genetic diversity nor the spatial distribution of haplotypes within ticks has been studied. Methods We characterized the haplotype distribution of Dermacentor nuttalli in four main pastoral areas of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, by sampling 109 individuals (recovered from sheep) in April–August 2019. The 16S rRNA gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and the internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2) were amplified and sequenced from extracted DNA. Results Twenty-six haplotypes were identified using 16S rRNA sequences, 57 haplotypes were identified with COI sequences, and 75 haplotypes were identified with ITS2 sequences. Among the three genes, total haplotype diversity was greater than 0.7, while total nucleotide diversity was greater than 0.06. Neutrality tests revealed a significantly negative Tajima’s D result, while Fu's Fs was not significantly positive. Fixation index values (FST) indicated that the degree of genetic differentiation among some sampled populations was small, while for others it was moderate. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the variation within populations was greater than that among populations. The mismatch analysis of D. nuttalli exhibited double peaks. Conclusion The genetic diversity of D. nuttalli populations in our region can likely adapt to different geographical environments, thereby leading to genetic diversity, and creating genetic differentiation among different populations. However, genetic differentiation is cryptic and does not form a pedigree geographical structure.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Gui
- Graduate School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, 010059, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Lin Wu
- Graduate School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, 010059, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Hao Cai
- Graduate School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, 010059, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Lan Mu
- Department of Parasitology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, 010110, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Jing-Feng Yu
- Department of Parasitology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, 010110, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Shao-Yin Fu
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Science, Hohhot, 010031, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Xiao-Yan Si
- Inner Mongolia Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hohhot, 010000, Inner Mongolia, China.
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28
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The repertoire of serine rhomboid proteases of piroplasmids of importance to animal and human health. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:455-462. [PMID: 33610524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Babesia, Theileria and Cytauxzoon are tick-borne apicomplexan protozoans of the order Piroplasmida, notorious for the diseases they cause in livestock, pets and humans. Host cell invasion is their Achilles heel, allowing for the development of drug or vaccine-based therapies. In other apicomplexans, cleavage of the transmembrane domain of adhesins by the serine rhomboid proteinase ROM4 is required for successful completion of invasion. In this study, we record and classify the rhomboid repertoire encoded in the genomes of 10 piroplasmid species pertaining to the lineages Babesia sensu stricto (s.s., Clade VI), Theileria sensu stricto (Clade IV), Theileria equi (Clade IV), Cytauxzoon felis (Clade IIIb) and Babesia microti (Clade I), as defined by Schnittger et al. (2012). Fifty-six piroplasmid rhomboid-like proteins were assigned by phylogenetic analysis and bidirectional best hit to the ROM4, ROM6, ROM7 or ROM8 groups, and their crucial motifs for conformation and function were identified. Forty-four of these rhomboids had either been incorrectly classified or misannotated. Babesia s.s. encode five or three ROM4 proteinase paralogs, whereas the remaining piroplasmids encode two ROM4 paralogs. All piroplasmids encode a single ROM6, ROM7 and ROM8. Thus, an increased paralog number of ROM4 is the only feature distinguishing Babesia s.s. from other piroplasmid lineages. Piroplasmid ROM6 is related to the mammalian mitochondrial rhomboid and, accordingly, N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal sequences was found in some cases. ROM6 is the only rhomboid encoded by piroplasmids that is ubiquitous in other organisms. ROM8 represents a pseudoproteinase that is highly conserved between studied piroplasmids, suggesting that it is important in regulatory functions. ROM4, ROM6, ROM7 and ROM8 are exclusively present in Aconoidasida, which comprises piroplasmids and Plasmodium, suggesting a relevant functional role in erythrocyte invasion. The correct classification and designation of piroplasmid rhomboids presented in this study facilitates an informed choice for future in-depth study of their functions.
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Florin-Christensen M, Rodriguez AE, Suárez CE, Ueti MW, Delgado FO, Echaide I, Schnittger L. N-Glycosylation in Piroplasmids: Diversity within Simplicity. Pathogens 2021; 10:50. [PMID: 33429911 PMCID: PMC7826898 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
N-glycosylation has remained mostly unexplored in Piroplasmida, an order of tick-transmitted pathogens of veterinary and medical relevance. Analysis of 11 piroplasmid genomes revealed three distinct scenarios regarding N-glycosylation: Babesia sensu stricto (s.s.) species add one or two N-acetylglucosamine (NAcGlc) molecules to proteins; Theileria equi and Cytauxzoon felis add (NAcGlc)2-mannose, while B. microti and Theileria s.s. synthesize dolichol-P-P-NAcGlc and dolichol-P-P-(NAcGlc)2 without subsequent transfer to proteins. All piroplasmids possess the gene complement needed for the synthesis of the N-glycosylation substrates, dolichol-P and sugar nucleotides. The oligosaccharyl transferase of Babesia species, T. equi and C. felis, is predicted to be composed of only two subunits, STT3 and Ost1. Occurrence of short N-glycans in B. bovis merozoites was experimentally demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy using a NAcGlc-specific lectin. In vitro growth of B. bovis was significantly impaired by tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation, indicating a relevant role for N-glycosylation in this pathogen. Finally, genes coding for N-glycosylation enzymes and substrate biosynthesis are transcribed in B. bovis blood and tick stages, suggesting that this pathway is biologically relevant throughout the parasite life cycle. Elucidation of the role/s exerted by N-glycans will increase our understanding of these successful parasites, for which improved control measures are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Anabel E. Rodriguez
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
| | - Carlos E. Suárez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA; (C.E.S.); (M.W.U.)
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA; (C.E.S.); (M.W.U.)
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Fernando O. Delgado
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
| | - Ignacio Echaide
- Estación Experimental Agrícola INTA-Rafaela, Santa Fe, Provincia de Buenos Aires S2300, Argentina;
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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Elsworth B, Duraisingh MT. A framework for signaling throughout the life cycle of Babesia species. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:882-890. [PMID: 33274587 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Babesia species are tick-borne intracellular parasites that infect the red blood cells of their mammalian host, leading to severe or fatal disease. Babesia spp. infect a wide range of mammalian species and cause a significant economic burden globally, predominantly through disease in cattle. Several Babesia spp. are increasingly being recognized as zoonotic pathogens of humans. Babesia spp. have complex life cycles involving multiple stages in the tick and the mammalian host. The parasite utilizes complex signaling pathways during replication, egress, and invasion in each of these stages. They must also rapidly respond to their environment when switching between the mammalian and tick stages. This review will focus on the signaling pathways and environmental stimuli that Babesia spp. utilize in the bloodstream and for transmission to the tick, with an emphasis on the role of phosphorylation- and calcium-based signaling during egress and invasion. The expanding availability of in vitro and in vivo culture systems, genomes, transcriptomes, and transgenic systems available for a range of Babesia spp. should encourage further biological and translational studies of these ubiquitous parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Elsworth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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31
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Magni R, Almofee R, Yusuf S, Mueller C, Vuong N, Almosuli M, Hoang MT, Meade K, Sethi I, Mohammed N, Araujo R, McDonald TK, Marcelli P, Espina V, Kim B, Garritsen A, Green C, Russo P, Zhou W, Vaisman I, Petricoin EF, Hoadley D, Molestina RE, McIntyre H, Liotta LA, Luchini A. Evaluation of pathogen specific urinary peptides in tick-borne illnesses. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19340. [PMID: 33168903 PMCID: PMC7653918 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75051-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass spectrometry enhanced by nanotechnology can achieve previously unattainable sensitivity for characterizing urinary pathogen-derived peptides. We utilized mass spectrometry enhanced by affinity hydrogel particles (analytical sensitivity = 2.5 pg/mL) to study tick pathogen-specific proteins shed in the urine of patients with (1) erythema migrans rash and acute symptoms, (2) post treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), and (3) clinical suspicion of tick-borne illnesses (TBI). Targeted pathogens were Borrelia, Babesia, Anaplasma, Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Francisella, Powassan virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and Colorado tick fever virus. Specificity was defined by 100% amino acid sequence identity with tick-borne pathogen proteins, evolutionary taxonomic verification for related pathogens, and no identity with human or other organisms. Using a cut off of two pathogen peptides, 9/10 acute Lyme Borreliosis patients resulted positive, while we identified zero false positive in 250 controls. Two or more pathogen peptides were identified in 40% of samples from PTLDS and TBI patients (categories 2 and 3 above, n = 59/148). Collectively, 279 distinct unique tick-borne pathogen derived peptides were identified. The number of pathogen specific peptides was directly correlated with presence or absence of symptoms reported by patients (ordinal regression pseudo-R2 = 0.392, p = 0.010). Enhanced mass spectrometry is a new tool for studying tick-borne pathogen infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Magni
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Raghad Almofee
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Sameen Yusuf
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Claudius Mueller
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Ngoc Vuong
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Mahmood Almosuli
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Minh Thu Hoang
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Katherine Meade
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Ish Sethi
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Nuha Mohammed
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Robyn Araujo
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Teresa Kaza McDonald
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Paul Marcelli
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Virginia Espina
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | | | | | | | - Paul Russo
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Weidong Zhou
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Iosif Vaisman
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Emanuel F Petricoin
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Deborah Hoadley
- New England Institute for Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illness, Longmeadow, USA
| | | | | | - Lance A Liotta
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Alessandra Luchini
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA.
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Capture-based enrichment of Theileria parva DNA enables full genome assembly of first buffalo-derived strain and reveals exceptional intra-specific genetic diversity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008781. [PMID: 33119590 PMCID: PMC7654785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria parva is an economically important, intracellular, tick-transmitted parasite of cattle. A live vaccine against the parasite is effective against challenge from cattle-transmissible T. parva but not against genotypes originating from the African Cape buffalo, a major wildlife reservoir, prompting the need to characterize genome-wide variation within and between cattle- and buffalo-associated T. parva populations. Here, we describe a capture-based target enrichment approach that enables, for the first time, de novo assembly of nearly complete T. parva genomes derived from infected host cell lines. This approach has exceptionally high specificity and sensitivity and is successful for both cattle- and buffalo-derived T. parva parasites. De novo genome assemblies generated for cattle genotypes differ from the reference by ~54K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) throughout the 8.31 Mb genome, an average of 6.5 SNPs/kb. We report the first buffalo-derived T. parva genome, which is ~20 kb larger than the genome from the reference, cattle-derived, Muguga strain, and contains 25 new potential genes. The average non-synonymous nucleotide diversity (πN) per gene, between buffalo-derived T. parva and the Muguga strain, was 1.3%. This remarkably high level of genetic divergence is supported by an average Wright’s fixation index (FST), genome-wide, of 0.44, reflecting a degree of genetic differentiation between cattle- and buffalo-derived T. parva parasites more commonly seen between, rather than within, species. These findings present clear implications for vaccine development, further demonstrated by the ability to assemble nearly all known antigens in the buffalo-derived strain, which will be critical in design of next generation vaccines. The DNA capture approach used provides a clear advantage in specificity over alternative T. parva DNA enrichment methods used previously, such as those that utilize schizont purification, is less labor intensive, and enables in-depth comparative genomics in this apicomplexan parasite. An estimated 50 million cattle in sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of the deadly livestock disease East coast fever (ECF), caused by the parasite Theileria parva, which imposes tremendous economic hardship on smallholder farmers. An existing ECF vaccine protects against strains circulating among cattle, but not against T. parva derived from African Cape buffalo, its main wildlife carrier. Understanding this difference in protective efficacy requires characterization of the genetic diversity in T. parva strains associated with each mammalian host, a goal that has been hindered by the proliferation of T. parva in nucleated host cells, with much larger genomes. Here we adapted a sequence capture approach to target the whole parasite genome, enabling enrichment of parasite DNA over that of the host. Choices in protocol development resulted in nearly 100% parasite genome specificity and sensitivity, making this approach the most successful yet to generate T. parva genome sequence data in a high-throughput manner. The analyses uncovered a degree of genetic differentiation between cattle- and buffalo-derived genotypes that is akin to levels more commonly seen between species. This approach, which will enable an in-depth T. parva population genomics study from cattle and buffalo in the endemic regions, can easily be adapted to other intracellular pathogens.
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Wang H, Wang Y, Huang J, Xu B, Chen J, Dai J, Zhou X. Babesia microti Protein BmSP44 Is a Novel Protective Antigen in a Mouse Model of Babesiosis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1437. [PMID: 32733477 PMCID: PMC7358449 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis caused by Babesia species imposes an increasing threat to public-health and so far, there is no effective vaccine to prevent Babesia infections. Babesia surface antigen may participate in the invasion of erythrocytes. In our previous study, a surface antigen of B. microti merozoites, named as BmSP44 was identified as a dominant reactive antigen by protein microarray screening. To evaluate its potential applications in diagnosis and prevention of Babesiosis, the open reading frame encoding BmSP44 was cloned and the recombinant protein was expressed. In consistent with the protein microarray result, recombinant BmSP44 (rBmSP44) can be recognized by sera from B. microti infected mice. Immunofluorescence assays (IFA) confirmed that BmSP44 is a secreted protein and localized principally in the cytoplasm of the parasites. The parasitemia and Babesia gene copies were lower in mice administered rBmSP44 antisera compared with normal controls. Active immunization with rBmSP44 also afforded protection against B. microti infection. The concentrations of hemoglobin in rBmSP44 immunization group were higher than those in the control group. Importantly, vaccination of mice with rBmSP44 resulted in a Th1/Th2 mixed immune response with significantly elevated IL-10 and IFN-γ levels during the early stage of infection. Taken together, our results indicated that rBmSP44 can induce a protective immune response against Babesia infection. Thus, BmSP44 can be used as both a diagnosis marker and a vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- School of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou, China
| | - Yao Wang
- School of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou, China
| | - Jilei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Junhu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- School of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou, China
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34
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Wei N, Du Y, Lu J, Zhou Y, Cao J, Zhang H, Gong H, Zhou J. A cysteine protease of Babesia microti and its interaction with tick cystatins. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3013-3022. [PMID: 32740752 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06818-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne protozoonosis caused by Babesia, which can cause fever, hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinuria, and even death. Babesia microti is a parasite found in rodents and can be pathogenic to humans. In this study, the full-length cDNA of a B. microti cysteine protease (BmCYP) was expressed and the recombinant rBmCYP protein analyzed and characterized. BmCYP is encoded by an ORF of 1.3 kb, with a predicted molecular weight of 50 kDa and a theoretical pI of 8.5. The amino acid sequence of BmCYP exhibits an identity of 32.9 to 35.2% with cysteine proteases of Babesia ovis, Babesia bovis, and Theileria, respectively. The results of the proteinase assays show that rBmCYP has cysteine protease enzymatic activity. In addition, we demonstrate that tick cystatins rRhcyst-1 and rRhcyst-2 were able to effectively inhibit the activity of rBmCYP; the inhibition rates were 57.2% and 30.9%, respectively. Tick cystatins Rhcyst-1 and Rhcyst-2 were differentially expressed in ticks that fed on Babesia-infected mice relative to non-infected control ticks. Our results suggest that BmCYP is a functional enzyme with cysteine protease enzymatic activity and may be involved in tick-B. microti interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yanfang Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jinmiao Lu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yongzhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Houshuang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Haiyan Gong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jinlin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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35
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Verma N, Puri A, Essuman E, Skelton R, Anantharaman V, Zheng H, White S, Gunalan K, Takeda K, Bajpai S, Lepore TJ, Krause PJ, Aravind L, Kumar S. Antigen Discovery, Bioinformatics and Biological Characterization of Novel Immunodominant Babesia microti Antigens. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9598. [PMID: 32533024 PMCID: PMC7293334 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66273-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia microti is an intraerythrocytic parasite and the primary causative agent of human babesiosis. It is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, transfusion of blood and blood products, organ donation, and perinatally. Despite its global public health impact, limited progress has been made to identify and characterize immunodominant B. microti antigens for diagnostic and vaccine use. Using genome-wide immunoscreening, we identified 56 B. microti antigens, including some previously uncharacterized antigens. Thirty of the most immunodominant B. microti antigens were expressed as recombinant proteins in E. coli. Among these, the combined use of two novel antigens and one previously described antigen provided 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity in identifying B. microti antibody containing sera in an ELISA. Using extensive computational sequence and bioinformatics analyses and cellular localization studies, we have clarified the domain architectures, potential biological functions, and evolutionary relationships of the most immunodominant B. microti antigens. Notably, we found that the BMN-family antigens are not monophyletic as currently annotated, but rather can be categorized into two evolutionary unrelated groups of BMN proteins respectively defined by two structurally distinct classes of extracellular domains. Our studies have enhanced the repertoire of immunodominant B. microti antigens, and assigned potential biological function to these antigens, which can be evaluated to develop novel assays and candidate vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Verma
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Ankit Puri
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Edward Essuman
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Richard Skelton
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Vivek Anantharaman
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20894, USA
| | - Hong Zheng
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Siera White
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Karthigayan Gunalan
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Kazuyo Takeda
- Lab Of Method Development, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Surabhi Bajpai
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, 304022, India
| | | | - Peter J Krause
- Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - L Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20894, USA
| | - Sanjai Kumar
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA.
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36
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Magni R, Luchini A, Liotta L, Molestina RE. Proteomic analysis reveals pathogen-derived biomarkers of acute babesiosis in erythrocytes, plasma, and urine of infected hamsters. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2227-2235. [PMID: 32435898 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06712-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Babesiosis among humans is on the rise in North America. Current diagnostic assays for the screening of babesiosis require blood collection by venipuncture, which is an invasive method. Urine on the other hand is a desirable biospecimen for biomarker analysis of Babesia microti infections because it can be collected periodically and non-invasively. Our group uses a new class of biomarker harvesting nanocage technology, which, when combined with mass spectrometry (MS), can determine the presence of parasite proteins shed in different bodily fluids of mammalian hosts, including urine. Using the hamster model of babesiosis, our nanoparticle-MS approach identified several B. microti proteins in erythrocytes, plasma, and urine samples. Surface and secreted antigens previously shown to elicit host immune responses against the parasite were particularly abundant in erythrocytes and plasma compared to other proteins. Two of these antigens, BmSA1 and BMR1_03g00947, showed different localization patterns by immunofluorescence of infected erythrocytes. Hamster urine samples from parasitemic animals harbored lower numbers of B. microti proteins compared to erythrocytes and plasma, with glycolytic enzymes, cytoskeletal components, and chaperones being the most frequently detected proteins. By applying novel nanoparticle-MS methods, a high level of analytical sensitivity can be achieved to detect multiple B. microti proteins in blood and urine. This is generally difficult to obtain with other techniques due to the masking of parasite biomarkers by the complex biomolecular matrix of bodily fluids from the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Magni
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Alessandra Luchini
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Lance Liotta
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Robert E Molestina
- Protistology Laboratory, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA, USA.
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37
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Wang S, Li M, Luo X, Yu L, Nie Z, Liu Q, An X, Ao Y, Liu Q, Chen J, Tian Y, Zhao J, He L. Inhibitory Effects of Fosmidomycin Against Babesia microti in vitro. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:247. [PMID: 32411701 PMCID: PMC7198706 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia microti, the main pathogen causing human babesiosis, has been reported to exhibit resistance to the traditional treatment of azithromycin + atovaquone and clindamycin + quinine, suggesting the necessity of developing new drugs. The methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, a unique pathway in apicomplexan parasites, was shown to play a crucial function in the growth of Plasmodium falciparum. In the MEP pathway, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) is a rate-limiting enzyme and fosmidomycin (FSM) is a reported inhibitor for this enzyme. DXR has been shown as an antimalarial drug target, but no report is available on B. microti DXR (BmDXR). Here BmDXR was cloned, sequenced, analyzed by bioinformatics, and evaluated as a potential drug target for inhibiting the growth of B. micorti in vitro. Drug assay was performed by adding different concentrations of FSM in B. microti in vitro culture. Rescue experiment was done by supplementing 200 μM isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) or 5 μM geranylgeraniol (GG-ol) in the culture medium together with 5 μM FSM or 10 μM diminazene aceturate. The results indicated that FSM can inhibit the growth of B. microti in in vitro culture with an IC50 of 4.63 ± 0.12 μM, and growth can be restored by both IPP and GG-ol. Additionally, FSM is shown to inhibit the growth of parasites by suppressing the DXR activity, which agreed with the reported results of other apicomplexan parasites. Our results suggest the potential of DXR as a drug target for controlling B. microti and that FSM can inhibit the growth of B. microti in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Muxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoying Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomeng An
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangsiqi Ao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaxu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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38
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Tretina K, Haidar M, Madsen-Bouterse SA, Sakura T, Mfarrej S, Fry L, Chaussepied M, Pain A, Knowles DP, Nene VM, Ginsberg D, Daubenberger CA, Bishop RP, Langsley G, Silva JC. Theileria parasites subvert E2F signaling to stimulate leukocyte proliferation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3982. [PMID: 32132598 PMCID: PMC7055300 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60939-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens have evolved intricate mechanisms to subvert host cell signaling pathways and ensure their own propagation. A lineage of the protozoan parasite genus Theileria infects bovine leukocytes and induces their uncontrolled proliferation causing a leukemia-like disease. Given the importance of E2F transcription factors in mammalian cell cycle regulation, we investigated the role of E2F signaling in Theileria-induced host cell proliferation. Using comparative genomics and surface plasmon resonance, we identified parasite-derived peptides that have the sequence-specific ability to increase E2F signaling by binding E2F negative regulator Retinoblastoma-1 (RB). Using these peptides as a tool to probe host E2F signaling, we show that the disruption of RB complexes ex vivo leads to activation of E2F-driven transcription and increased leukocyte proliferation in an infection-dependent manner. This result is consistent with existing models and, together, they support a critical role of E2F signaling for Theileria-induced host cell proliferation, and its potential direct manipulation by one or more parasite proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Tretina
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Program in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Malak Haidar
- Laboratoire de Biologie Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne, Paris Cité, France
- Inserm U1016, Cnrs UMR8104, Cochin Institute, Paris, 75014, France
| | - Sally A Madsen-Bouterse
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7040, USA
| | - Takaya Sakura
- Laboratoire de Biologie Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne, Paris Cité, France
- Inserm U1016, Cnrs UMR8104, Cochin Institute, Paris, 75014, France
| | - Sara Mfarrej
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Lindsay Fry
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7040, USA
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Pullman, WA, 99164-7030, USA
| | - Marie Chaussepied
- Laboratoire de Biologie Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne, Paris Cité, France
- Inserm U1016, Cnrs UMR8104, Cochin Institute, Paris, 75014, France
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Molecular Cell Biology Department, PO Box 26, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Donald P Knowles
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7040, USA
| | | | - Doron Ginsberg
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Molecular Cell Biology Department, PO Box 26, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel
| | - Claudia A Daubenberger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Richard P Bishop
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7040, USA
| | - Gordon Langsley
- Laboratoire de Biologie Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne, Paris Cité, France
- Inserm U1016, Cnrs UMR8104, Cochin Institute, Paris, 75014, France
| | - Joana C Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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39
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Transient Transfection of the Zoonotic Parasite Babesia microti. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9020108. [PMID: 32050586 PMCID: PMC7169379 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of genetic manipulation techniques has been reported in many protozoan parasites over the past few years. However, these techniques have not been established for Babesia microti. Here, we report the first successful transient transfection of B. microti. The plasmids containing the firefly luciferase reporter gene were transfected into B. microti by an AMAXA 4D Nucleofection system. Twenty-four-hour synchronization, the 5'-actin promoter, program FA100, and 50 μg of plasmid DNA constituted the best conditions for the transient transfection of B. microti. This finding is the first step towards a stable transfection method for B. microti, which may contribute to a better understanding of the biology of the parasite.
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40
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Molestina RE, Stedman TT. Update on BEI Resources for Parasitology and Arthropod Vector Research. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:321-324. [PMID: 32035817 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.01.003] [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: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BEI Resources has contributed to the advancement of parasitic diseases research for over 16 years. The accessibility of our reference strains and reagents is relevant to the development of new therapeutics and vaccines. Here we provide a resource update with emphasis on the new assets for toxoplasmosis and vector research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Molestina
- BEI Resources, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
| | - Timothy T Stedman
- BEI Resources, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
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41
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Yu L, Zhan X, Liu Q, Sun Y, Li M, Zhao Y, An X, Tian Y, He L, Zhao J. Identifying the Naphthalene-Based Compound 3,5-Dihydroxy 2-Napthoic Acid as a Novel Lead Compound for Designing Lactate Dehydrogenase-Specific Antibabesial Drug. Front Pharmacol 2020; 10:1663. [PMID: 32116673 PMCID: PMC7025647 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis is caused by apicomplexan Babesia parasites, including Babesia microti, Babesia crassa, Babesia sp. MOI, Babesia divergens, Babesia duncani, and Babesia venatorum. Among them, B. microti is the most common cause of human and rodent babesiosis. Currently, no vaccine is available, and drugs for the treatment have high failure rates and side effects. Due to lack of a traditional tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and its dominant dependence on anaerobic metabolism to produce ATP, B. microti lactate dehydrogenase (BmLDH) was assumed to play a critical role in B. microti ATP supply. Our previous study demonstrated that BmLDH is a potential drug target and Arg99 is a crucial site. Herein, a molecular docking was performed based on the crystal structure of BmLDH from a series of gossypol derivatives or structural analogs to find the potent inhibitors interacting with the residue Arg99, and three naphthalene-based compounds 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (NDCA), 1,6-dibromo-2-hydroxynapthalene 3-carboxylic acid (DBHCA), and 3,5-dihydroxy 2-napthoic acid (DHNA) were selected for further tests. Enzyme activity inhibitory experiments show that DBHCA and DHNA inhibit recombinant BmLDH (rBmLDH) catalysis with ~109-fold and ~5,000-fold selectivity over human LDH, respectively. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays demonstrate that DHNA has a lower K D value to BmLDH (3.766 x 10-5 M), in contrast to a higher value for DBHCA (3.988 x 10-8 M). A comparison of the kinetic parameters [association constant (k a) and dissociation constant (k d) values] reveals that DBHCA can bind the target faster than DHNA, while the complex of DHNA with the target dissociates slower than that of DBHCA. Both DBHCA and DHNA can inhibit the growth of B. microti in vitro with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 84.83 and 85.65 μM, respectively. Cytotoxicity tests in vitro further indicate that DBHCA and DHNA have selectivity indexes (SI) of 2.6 and 22.1 between B. microti and Vero cells, respectively. Although the two naphthalene-based compounds only display modest inhibitory activity against both rBmLDH and the growth of B. microti, the compound DHNA features high selectivity and could serve as a novel lead compound for designing LDH-specific antibabesial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueyan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yali Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Muxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangnan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomeng An
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Li M, Ao Y, Guo J, Nie Z, Liu Q, Yu L, Luo X, Zhan X, Zhao Y, Wang S, An X, He L, Zhao J. Surface Antigen 1 Is a Crucial Secreted Protein That Mediates Babesia microti Invasion Into Host Cells. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3046. [PMID: 32010102 PMCID: PMC6974462 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia microti, a tick-borne intraerythrocytic zoonotic protozoan, causes most of human babesiosis in the world, and patients usually experience intermittent fever, fatigue, and chills, followed by a combination of additional symptoms and even death in severe cases. Unfortunately, there is no curable drug or effective vaccine available, and the mechanism of related virulence factors in invasion to host cells during the merozoite stage is unclear. Here, we evaluated a secreted protein annotated as B. microti surface antigen 1 (BmSA1) and identified from in vitro culture supernatant by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). BmSA1 fragment was expressed in Escherichia coli to prepare polyclonal antiserum. Western blot analysis revealed the existence of BmSA1 in the lysate of the parasites and the hemolysate of infected red blood cells (iRBCs). Laser confocal microscopy confirmed BmSA1 as a secreted protein with diffuse distribution around the parasites in red blood cells (RBCs). The adhesion capacity of BmSA1 against the host RBCs was tested by RBC binding assays using the recombinant BmSA1 protein (rBmSA1), which was shown to specifically bind to host RBCs. Further in vitro antiserum-neutralization test demonstrated that the growth of parasites could be significantly inhibited by the anti-BmSA1 antiserum. These results indicate that BmSA1 is a crucial factor for B. microti invasion into host RBCs with an important role in host-parasite interactions during the merozoite stage and has the potential use as a vaccine candidate due to its high secretion amount.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangsiqi Ao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoying Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueyan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangnan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomeng An
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Yu L, Shen Z, Liu Q, Zhan X, Luo X, An X, Sun Y, Li M, Wang S, Nie Z, Ao Y, Zhao Y, Peng G, Mamoun CB, He L, Zhao J. Crystal structures of Babesia microti lactate dehydrogenase BmLDH reveal a critical role for Arg99 in catalysis. FASEB J 2019; 33:13669-13682. [PMID: 31585506 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901259r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The tick- and transfusion-transmitted human pathogen Babesia microti infects host erythrocytes to cause the pathologic symptoms associated with human babesiosis, an emerging disease with worldwide distribution and potentially fatal clinical outcome. Drugs currently recommended for the treatment of babesiosis are associated with a high failure rate and significant adverse events, highlighting the urgent need for more-effective and safer babesiosis therapies. Unlike other apicomplexan parasites, B. microti lacks a canonical lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) but instead expresses a unique enzyme, B. microti LDH (BmLDH), acquired through evolution by horizontal transfer from a mammalian host. Here, we report the crystal structures of BmLDH in apo state and ternary complex (enzyme-NADH-oxamate) solved at 2.79 and 1.89 Å. Analysis of these structures reveals that upon binding to the coenzyme and substrate, the active pocket of BmLDH undergoes a major conformational change from an opened and disordered to a closed and stabilized state. Biochemical assays using wild-type and mutant B. microti and human LDHs identified Arg99 as a critical residue for the catalytic activity of BmLDH but not its human counterpart. Interestingly, mutation of Arg99 to Ala had no impact on the overall structure and affinity of BmLDH to NADH but dramatically altered the closure of the enzyme's active pocket. Together, these structural and biochemical data highlight significant differences between B. microti and human LDH enzymes and suggest that BmLDH could be a suitable target for the development of selective antibabesial inhibitors.-Yu, L., Shen, Z., Liu, Q., Zhan, X., Luo, X., An, X., Sun, Y., Li, M., Wang, S., Nie, Z., Ao, Y., Zhao, Y., Peng, G., Ben Mamoun, C., He, L., Zhao, J. Crystal structures of Babesia microti lactate dehydrogenase BmLDH reveal a critical role for Arg99 in catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhou Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueyan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomeng An
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yali Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Muxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Sen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangsiqi Ao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangnan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Guiqing Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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44
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Babesiosis Vaccines: Lessons Learned, Challenges Ahead, and Future Glimpses. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:622-635. [PMID: 31281025 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The incidence and prevalence of babesiosis in animals and humans is increasing, yet prevention, control, or treatment measures remain limited and ineffective. Despite a growing body of new knowledge of the biology, pathogenicity, and virulence of Babesia parasites, there is still no well-defined, adequately effective and easily deployable vaccine. While numerous published studies suggest that the development of such anti-Babesia vaccines should be feasible, many others identify significant challenges that need to be overcome in order to succeed. Here, we review historic and recent attempts in babesiosis vaccine discovery to avoid past pitfalls, learn new lessons, and provide a roadmap to guide the development of next-generation babesiosis vaccines.
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Thekkiniath J, Kilian N, Lawres L, Gewirtz MA, Graham MM, Liu X, Ledizet M, Ben Mamoun C. Evidence for vesicle-mediated antigen export by the human pathogen Babesia microti. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/3/e201900382. [PMID: 31196872 PMCID: PMC6572159 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The human pathogen Babesia microti undergoes unique morphogenesis during its development within human and mouse red blood cells and uses a novel vesicle-based system for export of antigens into the host cell and environment. The apicomplexan parasite Babesia microti is the primary agent of human babesiosis, a malaria-like illness and potentially fatal tick-borne disease. Unlike its close relatives, the agents of human malaria, B. microti develops within human and mouse red blood cells in the absence of a parasitophorous vacuole, and its secreted antigens lack trafficking motifs found in malarial secreted antigens. Here, we show that after invasion of erythrocytes, B. microti undergoes a major morphogenic change during which it produces an interlacement of vesicles (IOV); the IOV system extends from the plasma membrane of the parasite into the cytoplasm of the host erythrocyte. We developed antibodies against two immunodominant antigens of the parasite and used them in cell fractionation studies and fluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy analyses to monitor the mode of secretion of B. microti antigens. These analyses demonstrate that the IOV system serves as a major export mechanism for important antigens of B. microti and represents a novel mechanism for delivery of parasite effectors into the host by this apicomplexan parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Thekkiniath
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nicole Kilian
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lauren Lawres
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Meital A Gewirtz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Morven M Graham
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Imaging Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Xinran Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Center for Cellular and Molecular Imaging Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michel Ledizet
- L2 Diagnostics, Limited Liability Corporation, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Abstract
The positioning of chromosomes in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell is highly organized and has a complex and dynamic relationship with gene expression. In the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the clustering of a family of virulence genes correlates with their coordinated silencing and has a strong influence on the overall organization of the genome. To identify conserved and species-specific principles of genome organization, we performed Hi-C experiments and generated 3D genome models for five Plasmodium species and two related apicomplexan parasites. Plasmodium species mainly showed clustering of centromeres, telomeres, and virulence genes. In P. falciparum, the heterochromatic virulence gene cluster had a strong repressive effect on the surrounding nuclear space, while this was less pronounced in Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium berghei, and absent in Plasmodium yoelii In Plasmodium knowlesi, telomeres and virulence genes were more dispersed throughout the nucleus, but its 3D genome showed a strong correlation with gene expression. The Babesia microti genome showed a classical Rabl organization with colocalization of subtelomeric virulence genes, while the Toxoplasma gondii genome was dominated by clustering of the centromeres and lacked virulence gene clustering. Collectively, our results demonstrate that spatial genome organization in most Plasmodium species is constrained by the colocalization of virulence genes. P. falciparum and P. knowlesi, the only two Plasmodium species with gene families involved in antigenic variation, are unique in the effect of these genes on chromosome folding, indicating a potential link between genome organization and gene expression in more virulent pathogens.
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47
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Jalovecka M, Sojka D, Ascencio M, Schnittger L. Babesia Life Cycle - When Phylogeny Meets Biology. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:356-368. [PMID: 30733093 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Although Babesia represents an important worldwide veterinary threat and an emerging risk to humans, this parasite has been poorly studied as compared to Plasmodium, its malaria-causing relative. In fact, Babesia employs highly specific survival strategies during its intraerythrocytic development and its intricate journey through the tick vector. This review introduces a substantially extended molecular phylogeny of the order Piroplasmida, challenging previous taxonomic classifications. The intriguing developmental proficiencies of Babesia are highlighted and compared with those of other haemoparasitic Apicomplexa. Molecular mechanisms associated with distinctive events in the Babesia life cycle are emphasized as potential targets for the development of Babesia-specific treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Jalovecka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, CZ-370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Mariano Ascencio
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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48
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Magni R, Luchini A, Liotta L, Molestina RE. Analysis of the Babesia microti proteome in infected red blood cells by a combination of nanotechnology and mass spectrometry. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:139-144. [PMID: 30391228 PMCID: PMC10548858 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Proteomics of Babesia microti has lagged behind other apicomplexans despite recent genome and transcriptome studies. Here, we used a combination of nanotechnology and mass spectrometry to provide a proteomic profile of B. microti acute infection. We identified ∼500 parasite proteins in blood with functions such as transport, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, proteolysis, DNA and RNA metabolism, signaling, translation, lipid biosynthesis, and motility and invasion. We also identified surface antigens with roles in the immune response to the parasite. This first evaluation of the B. microti proteome in erythrocytes provides information for the study of intracellular survival and development of diagnostic tools using mass spectrometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Magni
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Alessandra Luchini
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Lance Liotta
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Robert E Molestina
- Protistology Laboratory, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
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49
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Elton CM, Rodriguez M, Ben Mamoun C, Lobo CA, Wright GJ. A library of recombinant Babesia microti cell surface and secreted proteins for diagnostics discovery and reverse vaccinology. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:115-125. [PMID: 30367868 PMCID: PMC6406021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne parasitic disease and blood transfusion-transmitted infection primarily caused by the apicomplexan parasite, Babesia microti. There is no licensed vaccine for B. microti and the development of a reliable serological screening test would contribute to ensuring the safety of the donated blood supply. The recent sequencing of the B. microti genome has revealed many novel genes encoding proteins that can now be tested for their suitability as subunit vaccine candidates and diagnostic serological markers. Extracellular proteins are considered excellent vaccine candidates and serological markers because they are directly exposed to the host humoral immune system, but can be challenging to express as soluble recombinant proteins. We have recently developed an approach based on a mammalian expression system that can produce large panels of functional recombinant cell surface and secreted parasite proteins. Here, we use the B. microti genome sequence to identify 54 genes that are predicted to encode surface-displayed and secreted proteins expressed during the blood stages, and show that 41 (76%) are expressed using our method at detectable levels. We demonstrate that the proteins contain conformational, heat-labile, epitopes and use them to serologically profile the kinetics of the humoral immune responses to two strains of B. microti in a murine infection model. Using sera from validated human infections, we show a concordance in the host antibody responses to B. microti infections in mouse and human hosts. Finally, we show that BmSA1 expressed in mammalian cells can elicit high antibody titres in vaccinated mice using a human-compatible adjuvant but these antibodies did not affect the pathology of infection in vivo. Our library of recombinant B. microti cell surface and secreted antigens constitutes a valuable resource that could contribute to the development of a serological diagnostic test, vaccines, and elucidate the molecular basis of host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Elton
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Marilis Rodriguez
- New York Blood Center, Blood Borne Parasites, 310 E. 67th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Infectious Diseases, PO Box 208056, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8056, USA
| | - Cheryl A Lobo
- New York Blood Center, Blood Borne Parasites, 310 E. 67th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Gavin J Wright
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom.
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50
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Vaccination against babesiosis using recombinant GPI-anchored proteins. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:175-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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