1
|
Devi S, Negi S, Sharma P, Tandel N, Tyagi RK. Protocol for oleuropein-induced autophagy mediating drug tolerance in P. falciparum. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103141. [PMID: 38905105 PMCID: PMC11245907 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103141] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The anti-inflammatory activity of a phytocompound (oleuropein [OLP]) in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mimicked macrophage model of inflammation demonstrates the importance of PI3K-Akt1 signaling in establishing "immune homeostasis." Here, we present a protocol for the cultivation of in vitro cultures of P. falciparum for carrying out drug sensitivity assays. We describe steps for parasite synchronization, drug treatment, DNA isolation, and starvation-induced autophagy. This protocol provides insights into autophagy and parasite tolerance to drug pressure. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sharma et al.1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Devi
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sushmita Negi
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Prakriti Sharma
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Nikunj Tandel
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, SG highway, Ahmedabad 382481, India.
| | - Rajeev K Tyagi
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kane J, Li X, Kumar S, Button-Simons KA, Vendrely Brenneman KM, Dahlhoff H, Sievert MAC, Checkley LA, Shoue DA, Singh PP, Abatiyow BA, Haile MT, Nair S, Reyes A, Tripura R, Peto TJ, Lek D, Mukherjee A, Kappe SHI, Dhorda M, Nkhoma SC, Cheeseman IH, Vaughan AM, Anderson TJC, Ferdig MT. A Plasmodium falciparum genetic cross reveals the contributions of pfcrt and plasmepsin II/III to piperaquine drug resistance. mBio 2024; 15:e0080524. [PMID: 38912775 PMCID: PMC11253641 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00805-24] [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: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Piperaquine (PPQ) is widely used in combination with dihydroartemisinin as a first-line treatment against malaria. Multiple genetic drivers of PPQ resistance have been reported, including mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) and increased copies of plasmepsin II/III (pm2/3). We generated a cross between a Cambodia-derived multidrug-resistant KEL1/PLA1 lineage isolate (KH004) and a drug-susceptible Malawian parasite (Mal31). Mal31 harbors a wild-type (3D7-like) pfcrt allele and a single copy of pm2/3, while KH004 has a chloroquine-resistant (Dd2-like) pfcrt allele with an additional G367C substitution and multiple copies of pm2/3. We recovered 104 unique recombinant parasites and examined a targeted set of progeny representing all possible combinations of variants at pfcrt and pm2/3. We performed a detailed analysis of competitive fitness and a range of PPQ susceptibility phenotypes with these progenies, including PPQ survival assay, area under the dose response curve, and a limited point IC50. We find that inheritance of the KH004 pfcrt allele is required for reduced PPQ sensitivity, whereas copy number variation in pm2/3 further decreases susceptibility but does not confer resistance in the absence of additional mutations in pfcrt. A deep investigation of genotype-phenotype relationships demonstrates that progeny clones from experimental crosses can be used to understand the relative contributions of pfcrt, pm2/3, and parasite genetic background to a range of PPQ-related traits. Additionally, we find that the resistance phenotype associated with parasites inheriting the G367C substitution in pfcrt is consistent with previously validated PPQ resistance mutations in this transporter.IMPORTANCEResistance to piperaquine, used in combination with dihydroartemisinin, has emerged in Cambodia and threatens to spread to other malaria-endemic regions. Understanding the causal mutations of drug resistance and their impact on parasite fitness is critical for surveillance and intervention and can also reveal new avenues to limiting the evolution and spread of drug resistance. An experimental genetic cross is a powerful tool for pinpointing the genetic determinants of key drug resistance and fitness phenotypes and has the distinct advantage of quantifying the effects of naturally evolved genetic variation. Our study was strengthened since the full range of copies of KH004 pm2/3 was inherited among the progeny clones, allowing us to directly test the role of the pm2/3 copy number on resistance-related phenotypes in the context of a unique pfcrt allele. Our multigene model suggests an important role for both loci in the evolution of this multidrug-resistant parasite lineage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Kane
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Xue Li
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Katrina A. Button-Simons
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Katelyn M. Vendrely Brenneman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Haley Dahlhoff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Mackenzie A. C. Sievert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Lisa A. Checkley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Douglas A. Shoue
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Puspendra P. Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Biley A. Abatiyow
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Meseret T. Haile
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shalini Nair
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Ann Reyes
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Rupam Tripura
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas J. Peto
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dysoley Lek
- National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Angana Mukherjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mehul Dhorda
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Standwell C. Nkhoma
- BEI Resources, American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Virginia, USA
| | - Ian H. Cheeseman
- Host Pathogen Interactions Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Ashley M. Vaughan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Timothy J. C. Anderson
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Michael T. Ferdig
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sharma P, Tandel N, Kumar R, Negi S, Sharma P, Devi S, Saxena K, Chaudhary NR, Saini S, Kumar R, Chandel BS, Sijwali PS, Tyagi RK. Oleuropein activates autophagy to circumvent anti-plasmodial defense. iScience 2024; 27:109463. [PMID: 38562521 PMCID: PMC10982566 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109463] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimalarial drug resistance and unavailability of effective vaccine warrant for newer drugs and drug targets. Hence, anti-inflammatory activity of phyto-compound (oleuropein; OLP) was determined in antigen (LPS)-stimulated human THP-1 macrophages (macrophage model of inflammation; MMI). Reduction in the inflammation was controlled by the PI3K-Akt1 signaling to establish the "immune-homeostasis." Also, OLP treatment influenced the cell death/autophagy axis leading to the modulated inflammation for extended cell survival. The findings with MII prompted us to detect the antimalarial activity of OLP in the wild type (3D7), D10-expressing GFP-Atg18 parasite, and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) parasite. OLP did not show the parasite inhibition in the routine in vitro culture of P. falciparum whereas OLP increased the antimalarial activity of artesunate. The molecular docking of autophagy-related proteins, investigations with MMI, and parasite inhibition assays indicated that the host activated the autophagy to survive OLP pressure. The challenge model of P. berghei infection showed to induce autophagy for circumventing anti-plasmodial defenses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Sharma
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Nikunj Tandel
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, SG highway, Ahmedabad 382481, India
| | - Rajinder Kumar
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Sushmita Negi
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Prakriti Sharma
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Sonia Devi
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Kanika Saxena
- Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Neil Roy Chaudhary
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Sheetal Saini
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Reetesh Kumar
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Applied Sciences & Humanities, GLA University, Mathura 281406, India
| | - Bharat Singh Chandel
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Science and AH, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat 385 506, India
| | - Puran S. Sijwali
- Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Rajeev K. Tyagi
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomedical Parasitology and Translational-immunology Lab, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sec-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rizvi Z, Reddy GS, Gorde SM, Pundir P, Das D, Sijwali PS. Plasmodium falciparum contains functional SCF and CRL4 ubiquitin E3 ligases, and CRL4 is critical for cell division and membrane integrity. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012045. [PMID: 38416790 PMCID: PMC10927090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination is essential for cellular homeostasis and regulation of several processes, including cell division and genome integrity. Ubiquitin E3 ligases determine substrate specificity for ubiquitination, and Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) make the largest group among the ubiquitin E3 ligases. Although conserved and most studied in model eukaryotes, CRLs remain underappreciated in Plasmodium and related parasites. To investigate the CRLs of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, we generated parasites expressing tagged P. falciparum cullin-1 (PfCullin-1), cullin-2 (PfCullin-2), Rbx1 (PfRbx1) and Skp1 (PfSkp1). PfCullin-1 and PfCullin-2 were predominantly expressed in erythrocytic trophozoite and schizont stages, with nucleocytoplasmic localization and chromatin association, suggesting their roles in different cellular compartments and DNA-associated processes. Immunoprecipitation, in vitro protein-protein interaction, and ubiquitination assay confirmed the presence of a functional Skp1-Cullin-1-Fbox (PfSCF) complex, comprising of PfCullin-1, PfRbx1, PfSkp1, PfFBXO1, and calcyclin binding protein. Immunoprecipitation, sequence analysis, and ubiquitination assay indicated that PfCullin-2 forms a functional human CRL4-like complex (PfCRL4), consisting of PfRbx1, cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor subunit_A and WD40 repeat proteins. PfCullin-2 knock-down at the protein level, which would hinder PfCRL4 assembly, significantly decreased asexual and sexual erythrocytic stage development. The protein levels of several pathways, including protein translation and folding, lipid biosynthesis and transport, DNA replication, and protein degradation were significantly altered upon PfCullin-2 depletion, which likely reflects association of PfCRL4 with multiple pathways. PfCullin-2-depleted schizonts had poorly delimited merozoites and internal membraned structures, suggesting a role of PfCRL4 in maintaining membrane integrity. PfCullin-2-depleted parasites had a significantly lower number of nuclei/parasite than the normal parasites, indicating a crucial role of PfCRL4 in cell division. We demonstrate the presence of functional CRLs in P. falciparum, with crucial roles for PfCRL4 in cell division and maintaining membrane integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Rizvi
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - G. Srinivas Reddy
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
| | - Somesh M. Gorde
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
| | - Priyanka Pundir
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Divya Das
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Puran Singh Sijwali
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kane J, Li X, Kumar S, Button-Simons KA, Brenneman KMV, Dahlhoff H, Sievert MA, Checkley LA, Shoue DA, Singh PP, Abatiyow BA, Haile MT, Nair S, Reyes A, Tripura R, Peto T, Lek D, Kappe SH, Dhorda M, Nkhoma SC, Cheeseman IH, Vaughan AM, Anderson TJC, Ferdig MT. A Plasmodium falciparum genetic cross reveals the contributions of pfcrt and plasmepsin II/III to piperaquine drug resistance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.06.543862. [PMID: 37745488 PMCID: PMC10515748 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.06.543862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Piperaquine (PPQ) is widely used in combination with dihydroartemisinin (DHA) as a first-line treatment against malaria parasites. Multiple genetic drivers of PPQ resistance have been reported, including mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) and increased copies of plasmepsin II/III (pm2/3). We generated a cross between a Cambodia-derived multi-drug resistant KEL1/PLA1 lineage isolate (KH004) and a drug susceptible parasite isolated in Malawi (Mal31). Mal31 harbors a wild-type (3D7-like) pfcrt allele and a single copy of pm2/3, while KH004 has a chloroquine-resistant (Dd2-like) pfcrt allele with an additional G367C substitution and four copies of pm2/3. We recovered 104 unique recombinant progeny and examined a targeted set of progeny representing all possible combinations of variants at pfcrt and pm2/3 for detailed analysis of competitive fitness and a range of PPQ susceptibility phenotypes, including PPQ survival assay (PSA), area under the dose-response curve (AUC), and a limited point IC50 (LP-IC50). We find that inheritance of the KH004 pfcrt allele is required for PPQ resistance, whereas copy number variation in pm2/3 further enhances resistance but does not confer resistance in the absence of PPQ-R-associated mutations in pfcrt. Deeper investigation of genotype-phenotype relationships demonstrates that progeny clones from experimental crosses can be used to understand the relative contributions of pfcrt, pm2/3, and parasite genetic background, to a range of PPQ-related traits and confirm the critical role of the PfCRT G367C substitution in PPQ resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Kane
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Xue Li
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katrina A. Button-Simons
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | | | - Haley Dahlhoff
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Mackenzie A.C. Sievert
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Lisa A. Checkley
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Douglas A. Shoue
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Puspendra P. Singh
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Biley A. Abatiyow
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Meseret T. Haile
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shalini Nair
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ann Reyes
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rupam Tripura
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Tom Peto
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Dysoley Lek
- National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Stefan H.I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mehul Dhorda
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK
| | - Standwell C Nkhoma
- BEI Resources, American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Ian H. Cheeseman
- Host Pathogen Interactions Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ashley M. Vaughan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Timothy J. C. Anderson
- Disease Intervention and Prevention Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Michael T. Ferdig
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Arabiotorre A, Bankaitis VA, Grabon A. Regulation of phosphoinositide metabolism in Apicomplexan parasites. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1163574. [PMID: 37791074 PMCID: PMC10543664 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1163574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphoinositides are a biologically essential class of phospholipids that contribute to organelle membrane identity, modulate membrane trafficking pathways, and are central components of major signal transduction pathways that operate on the cytosolic face of intracellular membranes in eukaryotes. Apicomplexans (such as Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp.) are obligate intracellular parasites that are important causative agents of disease in animals and humans. Recent advances in molecular and cell biology of Apicomplexan parasites reveal important roles for phosphoinositide signaling in key aspects of parasitosis. These include invasion of host cells, intracellular survival and replication, egress from host cells, and extracellular motility. As Apicomplexans have adapted to the organization of essential signaling pathways to accommodate their complex parasitic lifestyle, these organisms offer experimentally tractable systems for studying the evolution, conservation, and repurposing of phosphoinositide signaling. In this review, we describe the regulatory mechanisms that control the spatial and temporal regulation of phosphoinositides in the Apicomplexan parasites Plasmodium and T. gondii. We further discuss the similarities and differences presented by Apicomplexan phosphoinositide signaling relative to how these pathways are regulated in other eukaryotic organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Arabiotorre
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College Station, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Vytas A. Bankaitis
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College Station, Bryan, TX, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Texas A&M University College Station, College Station, TX, United States
- Department of Chemistry Texas A&M University College Station, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Aby Grabon
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College Station, Bryan, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Usman MA, Salman AA, Ibrahim MA, Furukawa K, Yamasaki K. Biological functions and structural biology of Plasmodium falciparum autophagy-related proteins: The under-explored options for novel antimalarial drug design. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 101:1241-1251. [PMID: 36869438 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14225] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains a threat to global public health and the available antimalarial drugs are undermined by side effects and parasite resistance, suggesting an emphasis on new potential targets. Among the novel targets, Plasmodium falciparum autophagy-related proteins (PfAtg) remain a priority. In this paper, we reviewed the existing knowledge on the functions and structural biology of PfAtg including the compounds with inhibitory activity toward P. falciparum Atg8-Atg3 protein-protein interaction (PfAtg8-PfAtg3 PPI). A total of five PfAtg (PfAtg5, PfAtg8, PfAtg12, PfAtg18, and Rab7) were observed to have autophagic and/or non-autophagic roles. Available data showed that PfAtg8 has conserved hydrophobic pockets, which allows it to interact with PfAtg3 to form PfAtg8-PfAtg3 PPI. Additionally, 2-bromo-N-(4-pyridin-2-yl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl) benzamide was identified as the most powerful inhibitor of PfAtg8-PfAtg3 PPI. Due to the dearth of knowledge in this field, we hope that the article would open an avenue to further research on the remaining PfAtg as possible drug candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Koji Furukawa
- Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Yamasaki
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tanneru N, Nivya MA, Adhikari N, Saxena K, Rizvi Z, Sudhakar R, Nagwani AK, Atul, Mohammed Abdul Al-Nihmi F, Kumar KA, Sijwali PS. Plasmodium DDI1 is a potential therapeutic target and important chromatin-associated protein. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:157-175. [PMID: 36657610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
DNA damage inducible 1 protein (DDI1) is involved in a variety of cellular processes including proteasomal degradation of specific proteins. All DDI1 proteins contain a ubiquitin-like (UBL) domain and a retroviral protease (RVP) domain. Some DDI1 proteins also contain a ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain. The three domains confer distinct activities to DDI1 proteins. The presence of a RVP domain makes DDI1 a potential target of HIV protease inhibitors, which also block the development of malaria parasites. Hence, we investigated the DDI1 of malaria parasites to identify its roles during parasite development and potential as a therapeutic target. DDI1 proteins of Plasmodium and other apicomplexan parasites share the UBL-RVP domain architecture, and some also contain the UBA domain. Plasmodium DDI1 is expressed across all the major life cycle stages and is important for parasite survival, as conditional depletion of DDI1 protein in the mouse malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei and the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum compromised parasite development. Infection of mice with DDI1 knock-down P. berghei was self-limiting and protected the recovered mice from subsequent infection with homologous as well as heterologous parasites, indicating the potential of DDI1 knock-down parasites as a whole organism vaccine. Plasmodium falciparum DDI1 (PfDDI1) is associated with chromatin and DNA-protein crosslinks. PfDDI1-depleted parasites accumulated DNA-protein crosslinks and showed enhanced susceptibility to DNA-damaging chemicals, indicating a role of PfDDI1 in removal of DNA-protein crosslinks. Knock-down of PfDDI1 increased susceptibility to the retroviral protease inhibitor lopinavir and antimalarial artemisinin, which suggests that simultaneous inhibition of DDI1 could potentiate antimalarial activity of these drugs. As DDI1 knock-down parasites confer protective immunity and it could be a target of HIV protease inhibitors, Plasmodium DDI1 is a potential therapeutic target for malaria control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nandita Tanneru
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India
| | - M Angel Nivya
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India
| | - Navin Adhikari
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India
| | - Kanika Saxena
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, UP, India
| | - Zeba Rizvi
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India
| | - Renu Sudhakar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India
| | - Amit Kumar Nagwani
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India
| | - Atul
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India
| | | | - Kota Arun Kumar
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Puran Singh Sijwali
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500007, TS, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, UP, India.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liang X, Boonhok R, Siddiqui FA, Xiao B, Li X, Qin J, Min H, Jiang L, Cui L, Miao J. A Leak-Free Inducible CRISPRi/a System for Gene Functional Studies in Plasmodium falciparum. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0278221. [PMID: 35510853 PMCID: PMC9241666 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02782-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
By fusing catalytically dead Cas9 (dCas9) to active domains of histone deacetylase (Sir2a) or acetyltransferase (GCN5), this CRISPR interference/activation (CRISPRi/a) system allows gene regulation at the transcriptional level without causing permanent changes in the parasite genome. However, the constitutive expression of dCas9 poses a challenge for studying essential genes, which may lead to adaptive changes in the parasite, masking the true phenotypes. Here, we developed a leak-free inducible CRISPRi/a system by integrating the DiCre/loxP regulon to allow the expression of dCas9-GCN5/-Sir2a upon transient induction with rapamycin, which allows convenient transcriptional regulation of a gene of interest by introducing a guide RNA targeting its transcription start region. Using eight genes that are either silent or expressed from low to high levels during asexual erythrocytic development, we evaluated the robustness and versatility of this system in the asexual parasites. For most genes analyzed, this inducible CRISPRi/a system led to 1.5- to 3-fold up-or downregulation of the target genes at the mRNA level. Alteration in the expression of PfK13 and PfMYST resulted in altered sensitivities to artemisinin. For autophagy-related protein 18, an essential gene related to artemisinin resistance, a >2-fold up- or downregulation was obtained by inducible CRISPRi/a, leading to growth retardation. For the master regulator of gametocytogenesis, PfAP2-G, a >10-fold increase of the PfAP2-G transcripts was obtained by CRISPRa, resulting in >4-fold higher gametocytemia in the induced parasites. Additionally, inducible CRISPRi/a could also regulate gene expression in gametocytes. This inducible epigenetic regulation system offers a fast way of studying gene functions in Plasmodium falciparum. IMPORTANCE Understanding the fundamental biology of malaria parasites through functional genetic/genomic studies is critical for identifying novel targets for antimalarial development. Conditional knockout/knockdown systems are required to study essential genes in the haploid blood stages of the parasite. In this study, we developed an inducible CRISPRi/a system via the integration of DiCre/loxP. We evaluated the robustness and versatility of this system by activating or repressing eight selected genes and achieved up- and downregulation of the targeted genes located in both the euchromatin and heterochromatin regions. This system offers the malaria research community another tool for functional genetic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Liang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Rachasak Boonhok
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Faiza Amber Siddiqui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Bo Xiao
- Unit of Human Parasite Molecular and Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaolian Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Junling Qin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Unit of Human Parasite Molecular and Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Matz JM. Plasmodium’s bottomless pit: properties and functions of the malaria parasite's digestive vacuole. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:525-543. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
11
|
A Phosphoinositide-Binding Protein Acts in the Trafficking Pathway of Hemoglobin in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. mBio 2022; 13:e0323921. [PMID: 35038916 PMCID: PMC8764524 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03239-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphoinositide lipids play key roles in a variety of processes in eukaryotic cells, but our understanding of their functions in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is still very much limited. To gain a deeper comprehension of the roles of phosphoinositides in this important pathogen, we attempted gene inactivation for 24 putative effectors of phosphoinositide metabolism. Our results reveal that 79% of the candidates are refractory to genetic deletion and are therefore potentially essential for parasite growth. Inactivation of the gene coding for a Plasmodium-specific putative phosphoinositide-binding protein, which we named PfPX1, results in a severe growth defect. We show that PfPX1 likely binds phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate and that it localizes to the membrane of the digestive vacuole of the parasite and to vesicles filled with host cell cytosol and labeled with endocytic markers. Critically, we provide evidence that it is important in the trafficking pathway of hemoglobin from the host erythrocyte to the digestive vacuole. Finally, inactivation of PfPX1 renders parasites resistant to artemisinin, the frontline antimalarial drug. Globally, the minimal redundancy in the putative phosphoinositide proteins uncovered in our work supports that targeting this pathway has potential for antimalarial drug development. Moreover, our identification of a phosphoinositide-binding protein critical for the trafficking of hemoglobin provides key insight into this essential process. IMPORTANCE Malaria represents an enormous burden for a significant proportion of humanity, and the lack of vaccines and problems with drug resistance to all antimalarials demonstrate the need to develop new therapeutics. Inhibitors of phosphoinositide metabolism are currently being developed as antimalarials but our understanding of this biological pathway is incomplete. The malaria parasite lives inside human red blood cells where it imports hemoglobin to cover some of its nutritional needs. In this work, we have identified a phosphoinositide-binding protein that is important for the transport of hemoglobin in the parasite. Inactivation of this protein decreases the ability of the parasite to proliferate. Our results have therefore identified a potential new target for antimalarial development.
Collapse
|
12
|
Nakada-Tsukui K, Nozaki T. Trogocytosis in Unicellular Eukaryotes. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112975. [PMID: 34831198 PMCID: PMC8616307 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trogocytosis is a mode of internalization of a part of a live cell by nibbling and is mechanistically distinct from phagocytosis, which implies internalization of a whole cell or a particle. Trogocytosis has been demonstrated in a broad range of cell types in multicellular organisms and is also known to be involved in a plethora of functions. In immune cells, trogocytosis is involved in the "cross-dressing" between antigen presenting cells and T cells, and is thus considered to mediate intercellular communication. On the other hand, trogocytosis has also been reported in a variety of unicellular organisms including the protistan (protozoan) parasite Entamoeba histolytica. E. histolytica ingests human T cell line by trogocytosis and acquires complement resistance and cross-dresses major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I on the cell surface. Furthermore, trogocytosis and trogocytosis-like phenomena (nibbling of a live cell, not previously described as trogocytosis) have also been reported in other parasitic protists such as Trichomonas, Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and free-living amoebae. Thus, trogocytosis is conserved in diverse eukaryotic supergroups as a means of intercellular communication. It is depicting the universality of trogocytosis among eukaryotes. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of trogocytosis in unicellular organisms, including the history of its discovery, taxonomical distribution, roles, and molecular mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko Nakada-Tsukui
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.N.-T.); (T.N.); Tel.: +81-3-5285-1111 (K.N.-T.); +81-3-5841-3526 (T.N.)
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.N.-T.); (T.N.); Tel.: +81-3-5285-1111 (K.N.-T.); +81-3-5841-3526 (T.N.)
| |
Collapse
|