1
|
Yadav A, Verma K, Singh K, Tyagi S, Kori L, Bharti PK. Analysis of diagnostic biomarkers for malaria: Prospects on rapid diagnostic test (RDT) development. Microb Pathog 2024; 196:106978. [PMID: 39321969 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106978] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Accurate malaria diagnosis remains a formidable challenge in remote regions of malaria-endemic areas globally. Existing diagnostic methods predominantly rely on microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). While RDTs offer advantages such as rapid results and reduced dependence on highly skilled technicians compared to microscopy, persistent challenges emphasize the critical need to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers to further enhance RDT based malaria diagnosis. This comprehensive review presents a range of promising diagnostic targets. These targets could be useful in developing more robust, accurate, and effective diagnostic tools. Such tools are crucial for the detection of the Plasmodium falciparum (P.falcipaum) malaria parasite. The potential biomarkers discussed here significantly address the challenges posed by HRP2 gene deletion in P.falciparum. Researchers, RDT manufacturers, industrial and other stakeholders involved in malaria diagnosis can harness the crucial information described in this article, to drive the development of advanced RDTs as viable alternatives. By diversifying the available tools for diagnosis, we can attempt to enhance our ability to knock out malaria effectively and contribute to better health outcomes for people residing in malaria-endemic regions. This review serves as a valuable resource for advancing research and development in the field of malaria diagnostics, ultimately aiding to the global fight against this devastating ancient disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Yadav
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, LOT Testing Laboratory, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-HRDC Campus Sector-19, Ghaziabad, U.P, India
| | - Kanika Verma
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, LOT Testing Laboratory, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Kuldeep Singh
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, LOT Testing Laboratory, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Suchi Tyagi
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, LOT Testing Laboratory, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Lokesh Kori
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, LOT Testing Laboratory, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Praveen Kumar Bharti
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, LOT Testing Laboratory, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-HRDC Campus Sector-19, Ghaziabad, U.P, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pradhan S, Ubiaru PC, Ranford-Cartwright L. Simple supplementation of serum-free medium produces gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum that transmit to mosquitoes. Malar J 2024; 23:275. [PMID: 39256807 PMCID: PMC11389287 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-05094-8] [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: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human serum is a major component of Plasmodium falciparum culture medium, and can be replaced with AlbuMAX™ II, a lipid-rich bovine serum albumin, for asexual cultures. However, gametocytes produced without serum are poorly infective to mosquitoes. Serum suffers from high cost, limited availability, and variability in quality. METHODS Several commercially-available media supplements were tested for their ability to support parasite growth and production of P. falciparum (3D7) gametocytes in standard RPMI1640 medium containing 0.5% AlbuMAX. The impact on asexual growth and gametocyte production with each supplement was assessed and compared to standard RPMI1640 medium containing 10% human serum, as well as to medium containing 0.5% AlbuMAX alone. The infectivity of gametocytes produced with one supplement to Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto was assessed by standard membrane feeding assay and measuring both prevalence of infection and oocyst intensity. RESULTS Supplementation of medium containing 0.5% AlbuMAX with five supplements did not affect asexual growth of P. falciparum, and four of the five supplements supported early gametocyte production. The supplement producing the highest number of gametocytes, ITS-X, was further investigated and was found to support the production of mature gametocytes. Infection prevalence and oocyst intensity did not differ significantly between mosquitoes given a membrane feed containing gametocytes grown in medium with 0.5% AlbuMAX + ITS-X and those grown in medium with 10% human serum. Infection prevalence and oocyst intensity was significantly higher in case of ITS-X supplementation when compared to AlbuMAX alone. Infectious gametocytes were also produced from two field clones using ITS-X supplementation. CONCLUSIONS Serum-free medium supplemented with ITS-X was able to support the growth of gametocytes of P. falciparum that were as infectious to An. gambiae as those grown in medium with 10% serum. This is the first fully serum-free culture system able to produce highly infectious gametocytes, thereby removing the requirement for access to serum for transmission assays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabyasachi Pradhan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
| | - Prince Chigozirim Ubiaru
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Lisa Ranford-Cartwright
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Anschütz NH, Gerbig S, Ghezellou P, Silva LMR, Vélez JD, Hermosilla CR, Taubert A, Spengler B. Mass Spectrometry Imaging of In Vitro Cryptosporidium parvum-Infected Cells and Host Tissue. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1200. [PMID: 37627264 PMCID: PMC10452350 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081200] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic-relevant parasite belonging to the phylum Alveolata (subphylum Apicomplexa). One of the most zoonotic-relevant etiologies of cryptosporidiosis is the species C. parvum, infecting humans, cattle and wildlife. C. parvum-infected intestinal mucosa as well as host cells infected in vitro have not yet been the subject of extensive biochemical investigation. Efficient treatment options or vaccines against cryptosporidiosis are currently not available. Human cryptosporidiosis is currently known as a neglected poverty-related disease (PRD), being potentially fatal in young children or immunocompromised patients. In this study, we used a combination of atmospheric pressure scanning microprobe matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP-SMALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to determine and locate molecular biomarkers in in vitro C. parvum-infected host cells as well as parasitized neonatal calf intestines. Sections of C. parvum-infected and non-infected host cell pellets and infected intestines were examined to determine potential biomarkers. Human ileocecal adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8) were used as a suitable in vitro host cell system. More than a thousand different molecular signals were found in both positive- and negative-ion mode, which were significantly increased in C. parvum-infected material. A database search in combination with HPLC-MS/MS experiments was employed for the structural verification of markers. Our results demonstrate some overlap between the identified markers and data obtained from earlier studies on other apicomplexan parasites. Statistically relevant biomarkers were imaged in cell layers of C. parvum-infected and non-infected host cells with 5 µm pixel size and in bovine intestinal tissue with 10 µm pixel size. This allowed us to substantiate their relevance once again. Taken together, the present approach delivers novel metabolic insights on neglected cryptosporidiosis affecting mainly children in developing countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nils H. Anschütz
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (N.H.A.); (S.G.); (P.G.)
| | - Stefanie Gerbig
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (N.H.A.); (S.G.); (P.G.)
| | - Parviz Ghezellou
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (N.H.A.); (S.G.); (P.G.)
| | - Liliana M. R. Silva
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (L.M.R.S.); (J.D.V.); (C.R.H.); (A.T.)
- Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal
- MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Juan Diego Vélez
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (L.M.R.S.); (J.D.V.); (C.R.H.); (A.T.)
| | - Carlos R. Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (L.M.R.S.); (J.D.V.); (C.R.H.); (A.T.)
| | - Anja Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (L.M.R.S.); (J.D.V.); (C.R.H.); (A.T.)
| | - Bernhard Spengler
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (N.H.A.); (S.G.); (P.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang X, Sicalo Gianechini L, Li K, Kaplan RM, Witola WH. Broad-Spectrum Inhibitors for Conserved Unique Phosphoethanolamine Methyltransferases in Parasitic Nematodes Possess Anthelmintic Efficacy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0000823. [PMID: 37212658 PMCID: PMC10269165 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00008-23] [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: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, nematode infections are prevalent in developing countries, causing long-term ill health, particularly in children. Worldwide, nematode infections are prevalent in livestock and pets, affecting productivity and health. Anthelmintic drugs are the primary means of controlling nematodes, but there is now high prevalence of anthelmintic resistance, requiring urgent identification of new molecular targets for anthelmintics with novel mechanisms of action. Here, we identified orthologous genes for phosphoethanolamine methyltransferases (PMTs) in nematodes within the families Trichostrongylidae, Dictyocaulidae, Chabertiidae, Ancylostomatoidea, and Ascarididae. We characterized these putative PMTs and found that they possess bona fide PMT catalytic activities. By complementing a mutant yeast strain lacking the ability to synthesize phosphatidylcholine, the PMTs were validated to catalyze the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine. Using an in vitro phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase assay with PMTs as enzymes, we identified compounds with cross-inhibitory effects against the PMTs. Corroboratively, treatment of PMT-complemented yeast with the PMT inhibitors blocked growth of the yeast, underscoring the essential role of the PMTs in phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Fifteen of the inhibitors with the highest activity against complemented yeast were tested against Haemonchus contortus using larval development and motility assays. Among them, four were found to possess potent anthelmintic activity against both multiple drug-resistant and susceptible isolates of H. contortus, with IC50 values (95% confidence interval) of 4.30 μM (2.15-8.28), 4.46 μM (3.22-6.16), 28.7 μM (17.3-49.5), and 0.65 μM (0.21-1.88). Taken together, we have validated a molecular target conserved in a broad range of nematodes and identified its inhibitors that possess potent in vitro anthelmintic activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuejin Zhang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Kun Li
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ray M. Kaplan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Pathobiology Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
| | - William H. Witola
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schneider V, Visone J, Harris C, Florini F, Hadjimichael E, Zhang X, Gross M, Rhee K, Ben Mamoun C, Kafsack B, Deitsch K. The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can sense environmental changes and respond by antigenic switching. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302152120. [PMID: 37068249 PMCID: PMC10151525 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302152120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary antigenic and virulence determinant of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a variant surface protein called PfEMP1. Different forms of PfEMP1 are encoded by a multicopy gene family called var, and switching between active genes enables the parasites to evade the antibody response of their human hosts. var gene switching is key for the maintenance of chronic infections; however, what controls switching is unknown, although it has been suggested to occur at a constant frequency with little or no environmental influence. var gene transcription is controlled epigenetically through the activity of histone methyltransferases (HMTs). Studies in model systems have shown that metabolism and epigenetic control of gene expression are linked through the availability of intracellular S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the principal methyl donor in biological methylation modifications, which can fluctuate based on nutrient availability. To determine whether environmental conditions and changes in metabolism can influence var gene expression, P. falciparum was cultured in media with altered concentrations of nutrients involved in SAM metabolism. We found that conditions that influence lipid metabolism induce var gene switching, indicating that parasites can respond to changes in their environment by altering var gene expression patterns. Genetic modifications that directly modified expression of the enzymes that control SAM levels similarly led to profound changes in var gene expression, confirming that changes in SAM availability modulate var gene switching. These observations directly challenge the paradigm that antigenic variation in P. falciparum follows an intrinsic, programed switching rate, which operates independently of any external stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M. Schneider
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Joseph E. Visone
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Chantal T. Harris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Francesca Florini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Evi Hadjimichael
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Mackensie R. Gross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Kyu Y. Rhee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Björn F. C. Kafsack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Kirk W. Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kwarteng DO, Gangoda M, Kooijman EE. The effect of methylated phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives on the ionization properties of signaling phosphatidic acid. Biophys Chem 2023; 296:107005. [PMID: 36934676 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and Phosphatidylcholine (PC) are the most abundant glycerophospholipids in eukaryotic membranes. The differences in the physicochemical properties of their headgroups have contrasting modulatory effects on their interaction with intracellular macromolecules. As such, their overall impact on membrane structure and function differs significantly. Enzymatic methylation of PE's amine headgroup produces two methylated derivatives namely monomethyl PE (MMPE) and dimethyl PE (DMPE) which have physicochemical properties that generally range between that of PE and PC. Additionally, their influence on membrane properties differs from both PE and PC. Although variations in headgroup methylation have been reported to affect signaling pathways, the direct influence that these differences exert on the ionization properties of signaling phospholipids have not been investigated. Here, we briefly review membrane function and structure that are mediated by the differences in headgroup methylation between PE, MMPE, DMPE and PC. In addition, using 31P MAS NMR, we investigate the effect of these four phospholipids on the ionization properties of the ubiquitous signaling anionic lipid phosphatidic acid (PA). Our results show that PA's ionization properties are differentially affected by changes in phospholipid headgroup methylation. This could have important implications for PA-protein binding and hence physiological functions in cells where signaling events lead to changes in abundance of methylated PE derivatives in the membrane.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Desmond Owusu Kwarteng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| | - Mahinda Gangoda
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Edgar E Kooijman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
van der Watt ME, Reader J, Birkholtz LM. Adapt or Die: Targeting Unique Transmission-Stage Biology for Malaria Elimination. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901971. [PMID: 35755845 PMCID: PMC9218253 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle that includes development in the human host as well as the Anopheles vector. Successful transmission of the parasite between its host and vector therefore requires the parasite to balance its investments in asexual replication and sexual reproduction, varying the frequency of sexual commitment to persist within the human host and generate future opportunities for transmission. The transmission window is extended further by the ability of stage V gametocytes to circulate in peripheral blood for weeks, whereas immature stage I to IV gametocytes sequester in the bone marrow and spleen until final maturation. Due to the low gametocyte numbers in blood circulation and with the ease of targeting such life cycle bottlenecks, transmission represents an efficient target for therapeutic intervention. The biological process of Plasmodium transmission is a multistage, multifaceted process and the past decade has seen a much deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulators involved. Clearly, specific and divergent processes are used during transmission compared to asexual proliferation, which both poses challenges but also opportunities for discovery of transmission-blocking antimalarials. This review therefore presents an update of our molecular understanding of gametocyte and gamete biology as well as the status of transmission-blocking activities of current antimalarials and lead development compounds. By defining the biological components associated with transmission, considerations for the development of new transmission-blocking drugs to target such untapped but unique biology is suggested as an important, main driver for transmission-blocking drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariëtte E van der Watt
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hai Y, Cai ZM, Li PJ, Wei MY, Wang CY, Gu YC, Shao CL. Trends of antimalarial marine natural products: progresses, challenges and opportunities. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:969-990. [DOI: 10.1039/d1np00075f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the antimalarial marine natural products, focusing on their chemistry, malaria-related targets and mechanisms, and highlighting their potential for drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hai
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Zi-Mu Cai
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Peng-Jie Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Mei-Yan Wei
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Chang-Yun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Yu-Cheng Gu
- Syngenta Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 6EY, UK
| | - Chang-Lun Shao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266237, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hussein HE, Johnson WC, Taus NS, Capelli-Peixoto J, Suarez CE, Mousel MR, Ueti MW. Differential expression of calcium-dependent protein kinase 4, tubulin tyrosine ligase, and methyltransferase by xanthurenic acid-induced Babesia bovis sexual stages. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:395. [PMID: 34376245 PMCID: PMC8353865 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04902-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Babesia bovis is one of the most significant tick-transmitted pathogens of cattle worldwide. Babesia bovis parasites have a complex lifecycle, including development within the mammalian host and tick vector. Each life stage has developmental forms that differ in morphology and metabolism. Differentiation between these forms is highly regulated in response to changes in the parasite’s environment. Understanding the mechanisms by which Babesia parasites respond to environmental changes and the transmission cycle through the biological vector is critically important for developing bovine babesiosis control strategies. Results In this study, we induced B. bovis sexual stages in vitro using xanthurenic acid and documented changes in morphology and gene expression. In vitro induced B. bovis sexual stages displayed distinctive protrusive structures and surface ruffles. We also demonstrated the upregulation of B. bovis calcium-dependent protein kinase 4 (cdpk4), tubulin-tyrosine ligase (ttl), and methyltransferase (mt) genes by in vitro induced sexual stages and during parasite development within tick midguts. Conclusions Similar to other apicomplexan parasites, it is likely that B. bovis upregulated genes play a vital role in sexual reproduction and parasite transmission. Herein, we document the upregulation of cdpk4, ttl, and mt genes by both B. bovis in vitro induced sexual stages and parasites developing in the tick vector. Understanding the parasite's biology and identifying target genes essential for sexual reproduction will enable the production of non-transmissible live vaccines to control bovine babesiosis. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04902-3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hala E Hussein
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. .,Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Wendell C Johnson
- The US Department of Agriculture-ARS-Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Naomi S Taus
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.,The US Department of Agriculture-ARS-Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Janaina Capelli-Peixoto
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.,The US Department of Agriculture-ARS-Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Michelle R Mousel
- The US Department of Agriculture-ARS-Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA.,Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.,The US Department of Agriculture-ARS-Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
GlmS mediated knock-down of a phospholipase expedite alternate pathway to generate phosphocholine required for phosphatidylcholine synthesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Biochem J 2021; 478:3429-3444. [PMID: 34133721 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Phospholipid synthesis is crucial for membrane proliferation in malaria parasites during the entire cycle in the host cell. The major phospholipid of parasite membranes, phosphatidylcholine (PC), is mainly synthesized through the Kennedy pathway. The phosphocholine required for this synthetic pathway is generated by phosphorylation of choline derived from catabolism of the lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC) scavenged from the host milieu. Here we have characterized a Plasmodium falciparum lysophospholipase (PfLPL20) which showed enzymatic activity on LPC substrate to generate choline. Using GFP- targeting approach, PfLPL20 was localized in vesicular structures associated with the neutral lipid storage bodies present juxtaposed to the food-vacuole. The C-terminal tagged glmS mediated inducible knock-down of PfLPL20 caused transient hindrance in the parasite development, however, the parasites were able to multiply efficiently, suggesting that PfLPL20 is not essential for the parasite. However, in PfLPL20 depleted parasites, transcript levels of enzyme of SDPM pathway (Serine Decarboxylase-Phosphoethanolamine Methyltransferase) were altered along with upregulation of phosphocholine and SAM levels; these results show upregulation of alternate pathway to generate the phosphocholine required for PC synthesis through the Kennedy pathway. Our study highlights presence of alternate pathways for lipid homeostasis/membrane-biogenesis in the parasite; these data could be useful to design future therapeutic approaches targeting phospholipid metabolism in the parasite.
Collapse
|
11
|
Peros CS, Kriz R, Proudfoot GA. Account and Utilization of Blood Lipid Profiles: Lipid Levels Predicted Hemosporidian Infection in Migrating Northern Saw-Whet Owls of Eastern North America. J Parasitol 2021; 107:147-154. [PMID: 33662113 DOI: 10.1645/20-114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Noting lipidomic changes following the parasitism of migrating birds, the metabolic needs of which are primarily fueled by lipids, can deepen our understanding of host-parasite interactions. We identified lipids of migrating Northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) using collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry, compared the lipidomic signatures of hemoparasite-infected and noninfected individuals, and performed cross-validation analyses to reveal associations between parasite infection and lipid levels. We found significantly lower levels of lipid classes phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and sphingomyelin (SM) in infected Northern saw-whet owls than in the noninfected individuals. Conversely, we found higher levels for certain lysoPS and lysoPE species, and variable lipid level changes for free fatty acid (FFA) species. Reporting lipidomic changes observed between hemosporidian-infected and noninfected Northern saw-whet owls can strengthen our understanding of the mechanisms governing parasite proliferation in this species. Furthermore, our analysis indicated that lipidomic signatures are better predictors of parasite infection than the log-adjusted mass/wing chord body index, a metric commonly used to assess the influence of hemosporidia infection on the health of birds. Establishing a lipidomic profile for Northern saw-whet owls that provides baseline lipid levels during fall migration may assist future studies assessing causes of reductions in breeding brought about from subtle differences in behaviors such as delayed migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colin Scott Peros
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604
| | - Reno Kriz
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604.,Department of Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania, 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Glenn A Proudfoot
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Nurkanto A, Jeelani G, Santos HJ, Rahmawati Y, Mori M, Nakamura Y, Goto K, Saikawa Y, Annoura T, Tozawa Y, Sakura T, Inaoka DK, Shiomi K, Nozaki T. Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum Pantothenate Kinase and Identification of Its Inhibitors From Natural Products. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:639065. [PMID: 33768012 PMCID: PMC7985445 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.639065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme A (CoA) is a well-known cofactor that plays an essential role in many metabolic reactions in all organisms. In Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly among Plasmodium species that cause malaria, CoA and its biosynthetic pathway have been proven to be indispensable. The first and rate-limiting reaction in the CoA biosynthetic pathway is catalyzed by two putative pantothenate kinases (PfPanK1 and 2) in this parasite. Here we produced, purified, and biochemically characterized recombinant PfPanK1 for the first time. PfPanK1 showed activity using pantetheine besides pantothenate, as the primary substrate, indicating that CoA biosynthesis in the blood stage of P. falciparum can bypass pantothenate. We further developed a robust and reliable screening system to identify inhibitors using recombinant PfPanK1 and identified four PfPanK inhibitors from natural compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arif Nurkanto
- Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Cibinong, Indonesia.,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ghulam Jeelani
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Herbert J Santos
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yulia Rahmawati
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mihoko Mori
- Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan.,Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), Chiba, Japan
| | - Yumi Nakamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kana Goto
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yoko Saikawa
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Annoura
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuzuru Tozawa
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takaya Sakura
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kazuro Shiomi
- Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Erythrocyte sphingosine kinase regulates intraerythrocytic development of Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1257. [PMID: 33441957 PMCID: PMC7806667 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80658-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sphingolipid pool is key regulator of vital cellular functions in Plasmodium falciparum a causative agent for deadly malaria. Erythrocytes, the host for asexual stage of Plasmodium, are major reservoir for Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Erythrocyte possesses Sphingosine kinase (SphK) that catalyzed its biosynthesis from sphingosine (Sph). Since, Plasmodium lacks SphK homologous protein it can be envisaged that it co-opts sphingolipids from both intraerythrocytic as well as extracellular pools for its growth and development. Herein, by sphingosine-NBD probing, we report that infected erythrocytes imports Sph from extracellular pool, which is converted to S1P and thereby taken by P. falciparum. Next, by targeting of the SphK through specific inhibitor N,N-Dimethylsphingosine DMS, we show a reduction in erythrocyte endogenous S1P pool and SphK-phosphorylation that led to inhibition in growth and development of ring stage P. falciparum. Owing to the role of S1P in erythrocyte glycolysis we analyzed uptake of NBD-Glucose and production of lactate in DMS treated and untreated plasmodium. DMS treatment led to decreased glycolysis in Plasmodium. Interestingly the host free Plasmodium did not show any effect on glycolysis with DMS treatment indicating its host-mediated effect. Further to understand the in-vivo anti-plasmodial effects of exogenous and endogenous erythrocyte S1P level, Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (S1PL) inhibitor (THI), S1P and SphK-1 inhibitor (DMS), were used in Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) mice model. DMS treatment led to reduction of endogenous S1P conferred significant decrease in parasite load, whereas the plasma level S1P modulated by (THI) and exogenous S1P have no effect on growth of Plasmodium. This suggested erythrocyte endogenous S1P pool is important for Plasmodium growth whereas the plasma level S1P has no effect. Altogether, this study provides insight on cellular processes regulated by S1P in P. falciparum and highlights the novel mechanistically distinct molecular target i.e. SphK-1.
Collapse
|
14
|
Kumar M, Skillman K, Duraisingh MT. Linking nutrient sensing and gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage parasites. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:891-900. [PMID: 33236377 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most life-threatening infectious diseases worldwide, caused by infection of humans with parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The complex life cycle of Plasmodium parasites is shared between two hosts, with infection of multiple cell types, and the parasite needs to adapt for survival and transmission through significantly different metabolic environments. Within the blood-stage alone, parasites encounter changing levels of key nutrients, including sugars, amino acids, and lipids, due to differences in host dietary nutrition, cellular tropism, and pathogenesis. In this review, we consider the mechanisms that the most lethal of malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, uses to sense nutrient levels and elicit changes in gene expression during blood-stage infections. These changes are brought about by several metabolic intermediates and their corresponding sensor proteins. Sensing of distinct nutritional signals can drive P. falciparum to alter the key blood-stage processes of proliferation, antigenic variation, and transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristen Skillman
- 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
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
O'Neal AJ, Butler LR, Rolandelli A, Gilk SD, Pedra JH. Lipid hijacking: a unifying theme in vector-borne diseases. eLife 2020; 9:61675. [PMID: 33118933 PMCID: PMC7595734 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne illnesses comprise a significant portion of human maladies, representing 17% of global infections. Transmission of vector-borne pathogens to mammals primarily occurs by hematophagous arthropods. It is speculated that blood may provide a unique environment that aids in the replication and pathogenesis of these microbes. Lipids and their derivatives are one component enriched in blood and are essential for microbial survival. For instance, the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, among others, have been shown to scavenge and manipulate host lipids for structural support, metabolism, replication, immune evasion, and disease severity. In this Review, we will explore the importance of lipid hijacking for the growth and persistence of these microbes in both mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anya J O'Neal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - L Rainer Butler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Agustin Rolandelli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Stacey D Gilk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Joao Hf Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Neveu G, Beri D, Kafsack BF. Metabolic regulation of sexual commitment in Plasmodium falciparum. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:93-98. [PMID: 33053503 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
For malaria parasites regulating sexual commitment, the frequency with which asexual bloodstream forms differentiate into non-replicative male and female gametocytes, is critical because asexual replication is required to maintain a persistent infection of the human host while gametocytes are essential for infection of the mosquito vector and transmission. Here, we describe recent advances in understanding of the regulatory mechanisms controlling this key developmental decision. These include new insights into the mechanistic roles of the transcriptional master switch AP2-G and the epigenetic modulator GDV1, as well as the identification of defined metabolic signals that modulate their activity. Many of these metabolites are linked to parasite phospholipid biogenesis and we propose a model linking this pathway to the epigenetic regulation underlying sexual commitment in P. falciparum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaelle Neveu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Divya Beri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Björn Fc Kafsack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065 USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lee SG, Chung MS, DeMarsilis AJ, Holland CK, Jaswaney RV, Jiang C, Kroboth JHP, Kulshrestha K, Marcelo RZW, Meyyappa VM, Nelson GB, Patel JK, Petronio AJ, Powers SK, Qin PR, Ramachandran M, Rayapati D, Rincon JA, Rocha A, Ferreira JGRN, Steinbrecher MK, Yao K, Zhang EJ, Zou AJ, Gang M, Sparks M, Cascella B, Cruz W, Jez JM. Structural and biochemical analysis of phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase from the pine wilt nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2020; 238:111291. [PMID: 32479776 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2020.111291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In free-living and parasitic nematodes, the methylation of phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine provides a key metabolite to sustain phospholipid biosynthesis for growth and development. Because the phosphoethanolamine methyltransferases (PMT) of nematodes are essential for normal growth and development, these enzymes are potential targets of inhibitor design. The pine wilt nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) causes extensive damage to trees used for lumber and paper in Asia. As a first step toward testing BxPMT1 as a potential nematicide target, we determined the 2.05 Å resolution x-ray crystal structure of the enzyme as a dead-end complex with phosphoethanolamine and S-adenosylhomocysteine. The three-dimensional structure of BxPMT1 served as a template for site-directed mutagenesis to probe the contribution of active site residues to catalysis and phosphoethanolamine binding using steady-state kinetic analysis. Biochemical analysis of the mutants identifies key residues on the β1d-α6 loop (W123F, M126I, and Y127F) and β1e-α7 loop (S155A, S160A, H170A, T178V, and Y180F) that form the phosphobase binding site and suggest that Tyr127 facilitates the methylation reaction in BxPMT1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soon Goo Lee
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Michelle S Chung
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Antea J DeMarsilis
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Cynthia K Holland
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Rohit V Jaswaney
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Cherry Jiang
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Jakob H P Kroboth
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Kevin Kulshrestha
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Raymundo Z W Marcelo
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Vidhya M Meyyappa
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Grant B Nelson
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Janki K Patel
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Alex J Petronio
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Samantha K Powers
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Peter R Qin
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Mythili Ramachandran
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Divya Rayapati
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - John A Rincon
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Andreia Rocha
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | | | - Micah K Steinbrecher
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Kaisen Yao
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Eric J Zhang
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Angela J Zou
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Margery Gang
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Melanie Sparks
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Barrie Cascella
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Wilhelm Cruz
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States
| | - Joseph M Jez
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Kirkman LA, Deitsch KW. Vive la Différence: Exploiting the Differences between Rodent and Human Malarias. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:504-511. [PMID: 32407681 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.03.008] [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: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Experimental research into malaria biology and pathogenesis has historically focused on two model systems, in vitro culture of the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum and in vivo infections of laboratory animals using rodent parasites. While there is clear value in having a manipulatable animal model for studying malaria, there have occasionally been controversies around how representative the rodent model is of the human disease, and therefore significant emphasis has been placed on the similarities between the two biological systems. By focusing on basic nuclear functions, we wish to highlight that identifying key differences in the parasites and their interactions with their mammalian hosts can be equally informative and provide remarkable insights into the biology and evolution of these important infectious organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Kirkman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kirk W Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Computational and experimental elucidation of Plasmodium falciparum phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase inhibitors: Pivotal drug target. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221032. [PMID: 31437171 PMCID: PMC6705855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Plasmodium falciparum synthesizes phosphatidylcholine for the membrane development through serine decarboxylase-phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase pathway for growth in human host. Phosphoethanolamine-methyltransferase (PfPMT) is a crucial enzyme for the synthesis of phosphocholine which is a precursor for phosphatidylcholine synthesis and is considered as a pivotal drug target as it is absent in the host. The inhibition of PfPMT may kill malaria parasite and hence is being considered as potential target for rational antimalarial drug designing. METHODS In this study, we have used computer aided drug designing (CADD) approaches to establish potential PfPMT inhibitors from Asinex compound library virtually screened for ADMET and the docking affinity. The selected compounds were tested for in-vitro schizonticidal, gametocidal and cytotoxicity activity. Nontoxic compounds were further studied for PfPMT enzyme specificity and antimalarial efficacy for P. berghei in albino mice model. RESULTS Our results have identified two nontoxic PfPMT competitive inhibitors ASN.1 and ASN.3 with better schizonticidal and gametocidal activity which were found to inhibit PfPMT at IC50 1.49μM and 2.31μM respectively. The promising reduction in parasitaemia was found both in orally (50 & 10 mg/kg) and intravenous (IV) (5& 1 mg/kg) however, the better growth inhibition was found in intravenous groups. CONCLUSION We report that the compounds containing Pyridinyl-Pyrimidine and Phenyl-Furan scaffolds as the potential inhibitors of PfPMT and thus may act as promising antimalarial inhibitor candidates which can be further optimized and used as leads for template based antimalarial drug development.
Collapse
|
20
|
Li K, Nader SM, Zhang X, Ray BC, Kim CY, Das A, Witola WH. Novel lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors with in vivo efficacy against Cryptosporidium parvum. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007953. [PMID: 31356619 PMCID: PMC6687188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum is a highly prevalent zoonotic and anthroponotic protozoan parasite that causes a diarrheal syndrome in children and neonatal livestock, culminating in growth retardation and mortalities. Despite the high prevalence of C. parvum, there are no fully effective and safe drugs for treating infections, and there is no vaccine. We have previously reported that the bacterial-like C. parvum lactate dehydrogenase (CpLDH) enzyme is essential for survival, virulence and growth of C. parvum in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we screened compound libraries and identified inhibitors against the enzymatic activity of recombinant CpLDH protein in vitro. We tested the inhibitors for anti-Cryptosporidium effect using in vitro infection assays of HCT-8 cells monolayers and identified compounds NSC158011 and NSC10447 that inhibited the proliferation of intracellular C. parvum in vitro, with IC50 values of 14.88 and 72.65 μM, respectively. At doses tolerable in mice, we found that both NSC158011 and NSC10447 consistently significantly reduced the shedding of C. parvum oocysts in infected immunocompromised mice’s feces, and prevented intestinal villous atrophy as well as mucosal erosion due to C. parvum. Together, our findings have unveiled promising anti-Cryptosporidium drug candidates that can be explored further for the development of the much needed novel therapeutic agents against C. parvum infections. Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that can cause a life-threatening gastrointestinal disease in children and in immunocompromised adults. The only approved drug for treatment of Cryptosporidium infections in humans is nitazoxanide, but it is not effective in immunocompromised individuals or in children with malnutrition. C. parvum possesses a unique lactate dehydrogenase (CpLDH) enzyme that it uses for generating metabolic energy (ATP) via the glycolytic pathway to fuel its growth and proliferation in the host. We have identified novel inhibitors for the enzymatic activity of CpLDH. Further, we have demonstrated that two of the CpLDH inhibitors effectively block the growth, proliferation and pathogenicity of C. parvum at tolerable doses in immunocompromised mice. Together, our findings have unveiled novel CpLDH inhibitors that can be explored for the development of efficacious therapeutic drugs against C. parvum infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Sara M. Nader
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Xuejin Zhang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Benjamin C. Ray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Chi Yong Kim
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Aditi Das
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - William H. Witola
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Tanaka TQ, Tokuoka SM, Nakatani D, Hamano F, Kawazu SI, Wellems TE, Kita K, Shimizu T, Tokumasu F. Polyunsaturated fatty acids promote Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.042259. [PMID: 31221627 PMCID: PMC6679406 DOI: 10.1242/bio.042259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular triggers of sexual differentiation into gametocytes by blood stage Plasmodium falciparum, the most malignant human malaria parasites, are subject of much investigation for potential transmission-blocking strategies. The parasites are readily grown in vitro with culture media supplemented by the addition of human serum (10%) or by a commercially available substitute (0.5% AlbuMAX). We found better gametocytemia with serum than AlbuMAX, suggesting suboptimal concentrations of some components in the commercial product; consistent with this hypothesis, substantial concentration differences of multiple fatty acids were detected between serum- and AlbuMAX-supplemented media. Mass spectroscopy analysis distinguished the lipid profiles of gametocyte- and asexual stage-parasite membranes. Delivery of various combinations of unsaturated fatty-acid-containing phospholipids to AlbuMAX-supported gametocyte cultures improved gametocyte production to the levels achieved with human-serum-supplemented media. Maturing gametocytes readily incorporated externally supplied d5-labeled glycerol with fatty acids into unsaturated phospholipids. Phospholipids identified in this work thus may be taken up from extracellular sources or generated internally for important steps of gametocyte development. Further study of polyunsaturated fatty-acid metabolism and phospholipid profiles will improve understanding of gametocyte development and malaria parasite transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Q Tanaka
- International Medical Zoology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan.,Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA.,Research Unit of Advanced Preventive Medicine, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Suzumi M Tokuoka
- Department of Lipidomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 103-0033, Japan
| | - Daichi Nakatani
- Research Unit of Advanced Preventive Medicine, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Fumie Hamano
- Lipid Signaling Project, Research Institute National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Kawazu
- Research Unit of Advanced Preventive Medicine, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Thomas E Wellems
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Takao Shimizu
- Department of Lipidomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 103-0033, Japan.,Lipid Signaling Project, Research Institute National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Tokumasu
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA .,Department of Lipidomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 103-0033, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Sexual differentiation of the malaria parasite is a pre-requisite for transmission from humans to the mosquito vector and has emerged as a target for intervention in eradication efforts. In this issue of Cell, a study from Marti, Clardy, and colleagues (Brancucci et al., 2017) describes a host-derived lipid lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) that regulates sexual commitment.
Collapse
|
23
|
Singh J, Mansuri R, Vijay S, Sahoo GC, Sharma A, Kumar M. Docking predictions based Plasmodium falciparum phosphoethanolamine methyl transferase inhibitor identification and in-vitro antimalarial activity analysis. BMC Chem 2019; 13:43. [PMID: 31384791 PMCID: PMC6661969 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-019-0551-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased multidrug resistance among antimalarial drugs produces the urgency of potent anti malarial to combat resistant malaria and the malaria burden worldwide. The protein which may prevent the growth or transmission of malaria parasite may be the great target for rational drug designing. Plasmodium falciparum phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase (Pfpmt) absent in human catalyzes triple methylation of ethanolamine into phosphocholine for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis from serine decarboxylation phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase pathway for the membrane development at asexual as well as sexual stages of parasite. The Plasmodium requires production of membrane rapidly for growth and multiplication. Hence, the phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase of Plasmodium falciparum was selected as drug target for rational drug designing. Using Discovery studio 3.5 software the library of zinc compounds was screened against target and analyzed. The compounds with better druglike properties and docking affinity and binding interaction for target protein were procured for in vitro analysis against Plasmodium falciparum culture (IC50). Compounds ZINC02103914 and ZINC12882412 were found to have good druglike properties and affinity for Pfpmt also inhibited P. falciparum growth at very low µM IC50 concentration 3.0 µM and 2.1 µM respectively also found nontoxic in vitro against HEK-293 cells. Simulation study of best inhibitor revealed the specificity for the target protein. Hence, the compounds possessed the immense probability of being inhibitors of Pfpmt and may be optimized as antimalarial agent for combinational therapy to overcome the multidrug resistance and may also be used as template for optimization and rational drug designing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jagbir Singh
- 1Division of Protein Biochemistry and Structural Biology, National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Sector 8, Dwarka, New Delhi 110 077 India.,5Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India
| | - Rani Mansuri
- 2School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Apeejay Stya University, Gurugram, India
| | - Sonam Vijay
- Division of ECD, Indian Council of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Ganesh Chandra Sahoo
- 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute, Patna, India
| | - Arun Sharma
- 1Division of Protein Biochemistry and Structural Biology, National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Sector 8, Dwarka, New Delhi 110 077 India
| | - Mahesh Kumar
- 5Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kilian N, Choi JY, Voelker DR, Ben Mamoun C. Role of phospholipid synthesis in the development and differentiation of malaria parasites in the blood. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:17308-17316. [PMID: 30287688 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r118.003213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The life cycle of malaria parasites in both their mammalian host and mosquito vector consists of multiple developmental stages that ensure proper replication and progeny survival. The transition between these stages is fueled by nutrients scavenged from the host and fed into specialized metabolic pathways of the parasite. One such pathway is used by Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the most severe form of human malaria, to synthesize its major phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. Much is known about the enzymes involved in the synthesis of these phospholipids, and recent advances in genetic engineering, single-cell RNA-Seq analyses, and drug screening have provided new perspectives on the importance of some of these enzymes in parasite development and sexual differentiation and have identified targets for the development of new antimalarial drugs. This Minireview focuses on two phospholipid biosynthesis enzymes of P. falciparum that catalyze phosphoethanolamine transmethylation (PfPMT) and phosphatidylserine decarboxylation (PfPSD) during the blood stages of the parasite. We also discuss our current understanding of the biochemical, structural, and biological functions of these enzymes and highlight efforts to use them as antimalarial drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kilian
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520 and
| | - Jae-Yeon Choi
- the Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206
| | - Dennis R Voelker
- the Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520 and
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Bohaliga GAR, Johnson WC, Taus NS, Hussein HE, Bastos RG, Suarez CE, O’Connor R, Ueti MW. Identification of a putative methyltransferase gene of Babesia bigemina as a novel molecular biomarker uniquely expressed in parasite tick stages. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:480. [PMID: 30143025 PMCID: PMC6109354 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3052-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bovine babesiosis is caused by apicomplexan pathogens of the genus Babesia such as B. bigemina and B. bovis. These tick-borne pathogens have a complex life-cycle involving asexual multiplication in vertebrate hosts and sexual reproduction in invertebrate vectors. In the tick midgut, extracellular Babesia parasites transform into gametes that fuse to form zygotes. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie formation of extracellular Babesia tick stages is an important step towards developing control strategies for preventing tick infection and subsequent parasite transmission. RESULTS We induced B. bigemina sexual stages in vitro by exposing parasites to Tris 2-carboxyethyl phosphine (TCEP). Subsequently, we identified a novel putative methyltransferase gene (BBBOND_0204030) that is expressed uniquely in all B. bigemina tick stages but not in blood stages. In vitro TCEP-exposed B. bigemina presented diverse morphology including parasites with long projections, round forms and clusters of round forms indicative of sexual stage induction. We confirmed the development of sexual stages by detecting upregulation of previously defined B. bigemina sexual stage marker genes, ccp2 and 3, and their respective protein expression in TCEP-induced B. bigemina cultures. Next, transcription analysis of in vitro TCEP-induced B. bigemina culture based on an in silico derived list of homologs of Plasmodium falciparum gamete-specific genes demonstrated differential expression of the gene BBBOND_0204030 in induced cells. Further examination of ex vivo infected ticks demonstrated that BBBOND_0204030 is transcribed by multiple stages of B. bigemina during parasite development in tick midgut, ovary and hemolymph. Interestingly, ex vivo results confirmed our in vitro observation that blood stages of B. bigemina do not express BBBOND_0204030 and validated the in vitro system of inducing sexual stages. CONCLUSIONS Herein we describe the identification of a B. bigemina gene transcribed exclusively by parasites infecting ticks using a novel method of inducing B. bigemina sexual stages in vitro. We propose that this gene can be used as a marker for parasite development within the tick vector. Together, these tools will facilitate our understanding of parasite-tick interactions, the identification of novel vaccine targets and, consequently, the development of additional strategies to control bovine babesiosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gamila A. R. Bohaliga
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
| | - Wendell C. Johnson
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
| | - Naomi S. Taus
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
| | - Hala E. Hussein
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt
| | - Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
| | - Roberta O’Connor
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
- The Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164-70403 USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhang M, Wang C, Otto TD, Oberstaller J, Liao X, Adapa SR, Udenze K, Bronner IF, Casandra D, Mayho M, Brown J, Li S, Swanson J, Rayner JC, Jiang RHY, Adams JH. Uncovering the essential genes of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum by saturation mutagenesis. Science 2018; 360:360/6388/eaap7847. [PMID: 29724925 DOI: 10.1126/science.aap7847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 552] [Impact Index Per Article: 92.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Severe malaria is caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Despite decades of research, the distinct biology of these parasites has made it challenging to establish high-throughput genetic approaches to identify and prioritize therapeutic targets. Using transposon mutagenesis of P. falciparum in an approach that exploited its AT-rich genome, we generated more than 38,000 mutants, saturating the genome and defining mutability and fitness costs for over 87% of genes. Of 5399 genes, our study defined 2680 genes as essential for optimal growth of asexual blood stages in vitro. These essential genes are associated with drug resistance, represent leading vaccine candidates, and include approximately 1000 Plasmodium-conserved genes of unknown function. We validated this approach by testing proteasome pathways for individual mutants associated with artemisinin sensitivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Thomas D Otto
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Xiangyun Liao
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Swamy R Adapa
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Kenneth Udenze
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Iraad F Bronner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Deborah Casandra
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Matthew Mayho
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jacqueline Brown
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Suzanne Li
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Justin Swanson
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Rays H Y Jiang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kong P, Lehmann MJ, Helms JB, Brouwers JF, Gupta N. Lipid analysis of Eimeria sporozoites reveals exclusive phospholipids, a phylogenetic mosaic of endogenous synthesis, and a host-independent lifestyle. Cell Discov 2018; 4:24. [PMID: 29844921 PMCID: PMC5964319 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-018-0023-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful inter-host transmission of most apicomplexan parasites requires the formation of infective sporozoites within the oocysts. Unlike all other infective stages that are strictly intracellular and depend on host resources, the sporozoite stage develops outside the host cells, but little is known about its self-governing metabolism. This study deployed Eimeria falciformis, a parasite infecting the mouse as its natural host, to investigate the process of phospholipid biogenesis in sporozoites. Lipidomic analyses demonstrated the occurrence of prototypical phospholipids along with abundant expression of at least two exclusive lipids, phosphatidylthreonine (PtdThr) and inositol phosphorylceramide with a phytosphingosine backbone, in sporozoites. To produce them de novo, the parasite harbors nearly the entire biogenesis network, which is an evolutionary mosaic of eukaryotic-type and prokaryotic-type enzymes. Notably, many have no phylogenetic counterpart or functional equivalent in the mammalian host. Using Toxoplasma gondii as a gene-tractable surrogate to examine Eimeria enzymes, we show a highly compartmentalized network of lipid synthesis spread primarily in the apicoplast, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion, and Golgi complex. Likewise, trans-genera complementation of a Toxoplasma mutant with the PtdThr synthase from Eimeria reveals a convergent role of PtdThr in fostering the lytic cycle of coccidian parasites. Taken together, our work establishes a model of autonomous membrane biogenesis involving significant inter-organelle cooperation and lipid trafficking in sporozoites. Phylogenetic divergence of certain pathways offers attractive drug targets to block the sporulation and subsequent transmission. Not least, our results vindicate the possession of an entire de novo lipid synthesis network in a representative protist adapted to an obligate intracellular parasitic lifestyle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Kong
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, 10115 Germany
| | - Maik J. Lehmann
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, 10115 Germany
- Present Address: Department of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Applied Sciences, Bingen, 55411 Germany
| | - J. Bernd Helms
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CM The Netherlands
| | - Jos F. Brouwers
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CM The Netherlands
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, 10115 Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Using Yeast Synthetic Lethality To Inform Drug Combination for Malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:AAC.01533-17. [PMID: 29358287 PMCID: PMC5913926 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01533-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Combinatorial chemotherapy is necessary for the treatment of malaria. However, finding a suitable partner drug for a new candidate is challenging. Here we develop an algorithm that identifies all of the gene pairs of Plasmodium falciparum that possess orthologues in yeast that have a synthetic lethal interaction but are absent in humans. This suggests new options for drug combinations, particularly for inhibitors of targets such as P. falciparum calcineurin, cation ATPase 4, or phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase.
Collapse
|
29
|
Krause RGE, Goldring JPD. Phosphoethanolamine-N-methyltransferase is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of P. knowlesi and P. falciparum malaria. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193833. [PMID: 29505599 PMCID: PMC5837800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium knowlesi is recognised as the main cause of human malaria in Southeast Asia. The disease is often misdiagnosed as P. falciparum or P. malariae infections by microscopy, and the disease is difficult to eliminate due to its presence in both humans and monkeys. P. knowlesi infections can rapidly cause severe disease and require prompt diagnosis and treatment. No protein biomarker exists for the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) detection of P. knowlesi infections. Plasmodium knowlesi infections can be diagnosed by PCR. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Phosphoethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PMT) is involved in malaria lipid biosynthesis and is not found in the human host. The P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. knowlesi PMT proteins were recombinantly expressed in BL21(DE3) Escherichia coli host cells, affinity purified and used to raise antibodies in chickens. Antibodies against each recombinant PMT protein all detected all three recombinant proteins and the native 29 kDa P. falciparum PMT protein on western blots and in ELISA. Antibodies against a PMT epitope (PLENNQYTDEGVKC) common to all three PMT orthologues detected all three proteins. Antibodies against unique peptides from each orthologue of PMT, PfCEVEHKYLHENKE, PvVYSIKEYNSLKDC, PkLYPTDEYNSLKDC detected only the parent protein in western blots and P. falciparum infected red blood cell lysates or blood lysates spiked with the respective proteins. Similar concentrations of PfPMT and the control, PfLDH, were detected in the same parasite lysate. The recombinant PfPMT protein was detected by a human anti-malaria antibody pool. CONCLUSION PMT, like the pan-specific LDH biomarker used in RDT tests, is both soluble, present at comparable concentrations in the parasite and constitutes a promising antimalarial drug target. PMT is absent from the human proteome. PMT has the potential as a biomarker for human malaria and in particular as the first P. knowlesi specific protein with diagnostic potential for the identification of a P. knowlesi infection.
Collapse
|
30
|
Brancucci NMB, De Niz M, Straub TJ, Ravel D, Sollelis L, Birren BW, Voss TS, Neafsey DE, Marti M. Probing Plasmodium falciparum sexual commitment at the single-cell level. Wellcome Open Res 2018; 3:70. [PMID: 30320226 PMCID: PMC6143928 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14645.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Malaria parasites go through major transitions during their complex life cycle, yet the underlying differentiation pathways remain obscure. Here we apply single cell transcriptomics to unravel the program inducing sexual differentiation in Plasmodium falciparum. Parasites have to make this essential life-cycle decision in preparation for human-to-mosquito transmission. Methods: By combining transcriptional profiling with quantitative imaging and genetics, we defined a transcriptional signature in sexually committed cells. Results: We found this transcriptional signature to be distinct from general changes in parasite metabolism that can be observed in response to commitment-inducing conditions. Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study provides a template to capture transcriptional diversity in parasite populations containing complex mixtures of different life-cycle stages and developmental programs, with important implications for our understanding of parasite biology and the ongoing malaria elimination campaign.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas M B Brancucci
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mariana De Niz
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Timothy J Straub
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Deepali Ravel
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauriane Sollelis
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Bruce W Birren
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Till S Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthias Marti
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Brancucci NMB, De Niz M, Straub TJ, Ravel D, Sollelis L, Birren BW, Voss TS, Neafsey DE, Marti M. Probing Plasmodium falciparum sexual commitment at the single-cell level. Wellcome Open Res 2018; 3:70. [PMID: 30320226 PMCID: PMC6143928 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14645.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Malaria parasites go through major transitions during their complex life cycle, yet the underlying differentiation pathways remain obscure. Here we apply single cell transcriptomics to unravel the program inducing sexual differentiation in Plasmodium falciparum. Parasites have to make this essential life-cycle decision in preparation for human-to-mosquito transmission. Methods: By combining transcriptional profiling with quantitative imaging and genetics, we defined a transcriptional signature in sexually committed cells. Results: We found this transcriptional signature to be distinct from general changes in parasite metabolism that can be observed in response to commitment-inducing conditions. Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study provides a template to capture transcriptional diversity in parasite populations containing complex mixtures of different life-cycle stages and developmental programs, with important implications for our understanding of parasite biology and the ongoing malaria elimination campaign.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas M B Brancucci
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mariana De Niz
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Timothy J Straub
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Deepali Ravel
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauriane Sollelis
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Bruce W Birren
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Till S Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthias Marti
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Brancucci NMB, De Niz M, Straub TJ, Ravel D, Sollelis L, Birren BW, Voss TS, Neafsey DE, Marti M. Probing Plasmodium falciparum sexual commitment at the single-cell level. Wellcome Open Res 2018; 3:70. [PMID: 30320226 PMCID: PMC6143928 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14645.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Malaria parasites go through major transitions during their complex life cycle, yet the underlying differentiation pathways remain obscure. Here we apply single cell transcriptomics to unravel the program inducing sexual differentiation in Plasmodium falciparum. Parasites have to make this essential life-cycle decision in preparation for human-to-mosquito transmission. Methods: By combining transcriptional profiling with quantitative imaging and genetics, we defined a transcriptional signature in sexually committed cells. Results: We found this transcriptional signature to be distinct from general changes in parasite metabolism that can be observed in response to commitment-inducing conditions. Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study provides a template to capture transcriptional diversity in parasite populations containing complex mixtures of different life-cycle stages and developmental programs, with important implications for our understanding of parasite biology and the ongoing malaria elimination campaign.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas M B Brancucci
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mariana De Niz
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Timothy J Straub
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Deepali Ravel
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauriane Sollelis
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Bruce W Birren
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Till S Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthias Marti
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Choi JY, Surovtseva YV, Van Sickle SM, Kumpf J, Bunz UHF, Ben Mamoun C, Voelker DR. A novel fluorescence assay for measuring phosphatidylserine decarboxylase catalysis. J Biol Chem 2017; 293:1493-1503. [PMID: 29247006 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.000525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidylserine decarboxylases (PSDs) are central enzymes in phospholipid metabolism that produce phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in bacteria, protists, plants, and animals. We developed a fluorescence-based assay for selectively monitoring production of PE in reactions using a maltose-binding protein fusion with Plasmodium knowlesi PSD (MBP-His6-Δ34PkPSD) as the enzyme. The PE detection by fluorescence (λex = 403 nm, λem = 508 nm) occurred after the lipid reacted with a water-soluble distyrylbenzene-bis-aldehyde (DSB-3), and provided strong discrimination against the phosphatidylserine substrate. The reaction conditions were optimized for enzyme, substrate, product, and DSB-3 concentrations with the purified enzyme and also tested with crude extracts and membrane fractions from bacteria and yeast. The assay is readily amenable to application in 96- and 384-well microtiter plates and should prove useful for high-throughput screening for inhibitors of PSD enzymes across diverse phyla.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Yeon Choi
- From the Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206
| | | | - Sam M Van Sickle
- From the Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206
| | - Jan Kumpf
- the Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uwe H F Bunz
- the Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, and
| | - Dennis R Voelker
- From the Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206,
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Brancucci NMB, Gerdt JP, Wang C, De Niz M, Philip N, Adapa SR, Zhang M, Hitz E, Niederwieser I, Boltryk SD, Laffitte MC, Clark MA, Grüring C, Ravel D, Blancke Soares A, Demas A, Bopp S, Rubio-Ruiz B, Conejo-Garcia A, Wirth DF, Gendaszewska-Darmach E, Duraisingh MT, Adams JH, Voss TS, Waters AP, Jiang RHY, Clardy J, Marti M. Lysophosphatidylcholine Regulates Sexual Stage Differentiation in the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Cell 2017; 171:1532-1544.e15. [PMID: 29129376 PMCID: PMC5733390 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Transmission represents a population bottleneck in the Plasmodium life cycle and a key intervention target of ongoing efforts to eradicate malaria. Sexual differentiation is essential for this process, as only sexual parasites, called gametocytes, are infective to the mosquito vector. Gametocyte production rates vary depending on environmental conditions, but external stimuli remain obscure. Here, we show that the host-derived lipid lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) controls P. falciparum cell fate by repressing parasite sexual differentiation. We demonstrate that exogenous LysoPC drives biosynthesis of the essential membrane component phosphatidylcholine. LysoPC restriction induces a compensatory response, linking parasite metabolism to the activation of sexual-stage-specific transcription and gametocyte formation. Our results reveal that malaria parasites can sense and process host-derived physiological signals to regulate differentiation. These data close a critical knowledge gap in parasite biology and introduce a major component of the sexual differentiation pathway in Plasmodium that may provide new approaches for blocking malaria transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas M B Brancucci
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Joseph P Gerdt
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - ChengQi Wang
- Center for Global Health & Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Mariana De Niz
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Nisha Philip
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Swamy R Adapa
- Center for Global Health & Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Min Zhang
- Center for Global Health & Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Eva Hitz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Igor Niederwieser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sylwia D Boltryk
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Claude Laffitte
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Martha A Clark
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Christof Grüring
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Deepali Ravel
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Alexandra Blancke Soares
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Allison Demas
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Selina Bopp
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Belén Rubio-Ruiz
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Conejo-Garcia
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - Edyta Gendaszewska-Darmach
- Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health & Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Till S Voss
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew P Waters
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Rays H Y Jiang
- Center for Global Health & Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Jon Clardy
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Boston, MA 02155, USA.
| | - Matthias Marti
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02155, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chiu JE, Thekkiniath J, Choi JY, Perrin BA, Lawres L, Plummer M, Virji AZ, Abraham A, Toh JY, Zandt MV, Aly ASI, Voelker DR, Mamoun CB. The antimalarial activity of the pantothenamide α-PanAm is via inhibition of pantothenate phosphorylation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14234. [PMID: 29079738 PMCID: PMC5660193 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14074-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The biosynthesis of the major acyl carrier Coenzyme A from pantothenic acid (PA) is critical for survival of Plasmodium falciparum within human erythrocytes. Accordingly, a PA analog α-PanAm showed potent activity against blood stage parasites in vitro; however, its efficacy in vivo and its mode of action remain unknown. We developed a new synthesis route for α-PanAm and showed that the compound is highly effective against blood stages of drug-sensitive and -resistant P. falciparum strains, inhibits development of P. berghei in hepatocytes, and at doses up to 100 mg/kg also inhibits blood stage development of P. chabaudi in mice. We used yeast and its pantothenate kinase Cab1 as models to characterize mode of action of α-PanAm and found that α-PanAm inhibits yeast growth in a PA-dependent manner, and its potency increases dramatically in a yeast mutant with defective pantothenate kinase activity. Biochemical analyses using 14C-PA as a substrate demonstrated that α-PanAm is a competitive inhibitor of Cab1. Interestingly, biochemical and mass spectrometry analyses also showed that the compound is phosphorylated by Cab1. Together, these data suggest that α-PanAm exerts its antimicrobial activity by direct competition with the natural substrate PA for phosphorylation by the pantothenate kinase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joy E Chiu
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jose Thekkiniath
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jae-Yeon Choi
- Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson St, Denver, Colorado, 80206, USA
| | - Benjamin A Perrin
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lauren Lawres
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mark Plummer
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Azan Z Virji
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Amanah Abraham
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Justin Y Toh
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Ahmed S I Aly
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Dennis R Voelker
- Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson St, Denver, Colorado, 80206, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Miao J, Chen Z, Wang Z, Shrestha S, Li X, Li R, Cui L. Sex-Specific Biology of the Human Malaria Parasite Revealed from the Proteomes of Mature Male and Female Gametocytes. Mol Cell Proteomics 2017; 16:537-551. [PMID: 28126901 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m116.061804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The gametocytes of the malaria parasites are obligate for perpetuating the parasite's life cycle through mosquitoes, but the sex-specific biology of gametocytes is poorly understood. We generated a transgenic line in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which allowed us to accurately separate male and female gametocytes by flow cytometry. In-depth analysis of the proteomes by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified 1244 and 1387 proteins in mature male and female gametocytes, respectively. GFP-tagging of nine selected proteins confirmed their sex-partitions to be agreeable with the results from the proteomic analysis. The sex-specific proteomes showed significant differences that are consistent with the divergent functions of the two sexes. Although the male-specific proteome (119 proteins) is enriched in proteins associated with the flagella and genome replication, the female-specific proteome (262 proteins) is more abundant in proteins involved in metabolism, translation and organellar functions. Compared with the Plasmodium berghei sex-specific proteomes, this study revealed both extensive conservation and considerable divergence between these two species, which reflect the disparities between the two species in proteins involved in cytoskeleton, lipid metabolism and protein degradation. Comparison with three sex-specific proteomes allowed us to obtain high-confidence lists of 73 and 89 core male- and female-specific/biased proteins conserved in Plasmodium The identification of sex-specific/biased proteomes in Plasmodium lays a solid foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the unique sex-specific biology in this early-branching eukaryote.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Miao
- From the ‡Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802;
| | - Zhao Chen
- §Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, 413 Thomas Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
| | - Zenglei Wang
- From the ‡Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
| | - Sony Shrestha
- From the ‡Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
| | - Xiaolian Li
- From the ‡Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
| | - Runze Li
- §Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, 413 Thomas Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
| | - Liwang Cui
- From the ‡Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802;
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Amiar S, MacRae JI, Callahan DL, Dubois D, van Dooren GG, Shears MJ, Cesbron-Delauw MF, Maréchal E, McConville MJ, McFadden GI, Yamaryo-Botté Y, Botté CY. Apicoplast-Localized Lysophosphatidic Acid Precursor Assembly Is Required for Bulk Phospholipid Synthesis in Toxoplasma gondii and Relies on an Algal/Plant-Like Glycerol 3-Phosphate Acyltransferase. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005765. [PMID: 27490259 PMCID: PMC4973916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Most apicomplexan parasites possess a non-photosynthetic plastid (the apicoplast), which harbors enzymes for a number of metabolic pathways, including a prokaryotic type II fatty acid synthesis (FASII) pathway. In Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, the FASII pathway is essential for parasite growth and infectivity. However, little is known about the fate of fatty acids synthesized by FASII. In this study, we have investigated the function of a plant-like glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (TgATS1) that localizes to the T. gondii apicoplast. Knock-down of TgATS1 resulted in significantly reduced incorporation of FASII-synthesized fatty acids into phosphatidic acid and downstream phospholipids and a severe defect in intracellular parasite replication and survival. Lipidomic analysis demonstrated that lipid precursors are made in, and exported from, the apicoplast for de novo biosynthesis of bulk phospholipids. This study reveals that the apicoplast-located FASII and ATS1, which are primarily used to generate plastid galactolipids in plants and algae, instead generate bulk phospholipids for membrane biogenesis in T. gondii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Souad Amiar
- ApicoLipid group, Institute for Advanced Biosciences UMR5309, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, Grenoble, France
| | - James I. MacRae
- The Francis Crick Institute, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Damien L. Callahan
- Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Dubois
- ApicoLipid group, Institute for Advanced Biosciences UMR5309, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, Grenoble, France
| | - Giel G. van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Melanie J. Shears
- ApicoLipid group, Institute for Advanced Biosciences UMR5309, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, Grenoble, France
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Eric Maréchal
- Unité de recherche (UMR) 5168, CNRS, CEA, INRA, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Malcolm J. McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Yoshiki Yamaryo-Botté
- ApicoLipid group, Institute for Advanced Biosciences UMR5309, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, Grenoble, France
| | - Cyrille Y. Botté
- ApicoLipid group, Institute for Advanced Biosciences UMR5309, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, Grenoble, France
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Profiling the Essential Nature of Lipid Metabolism in Asexual Blood and Gametocyte Stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Cell Host Microbe 2016; 18:371-81. [PMID: 26355219 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
During its life cycle, Plasmodium falciparum undergoes rapid proliferation fueled by de novo synthesis and acquisition of host cell lipids. Consistent with this essential role, Plasmodium lipid synthesis enzymes are emerging as potential drug targets. To explore their broader potential for therapeutic interventions, we assayed the global lipid landscape during P. falciparum sexual and asexual blood stage (ABS) development. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we analyzed 304 lipids constituting 24 classes in ABS parasites, infected red blood cell (RBC)-derived microvesicles, gametocytes, and uninfected RBCs. Ten lipid classes were previously uncharacterized in P. falciparum, and 70%-75% of the lipid classes exhibited changes in abundance during ABS and gametocyte development. Utilizing compounds that target lipid metabolism, we affirmed the essentiality of major classes, including triacylglycerols. These studies highlight the interplay between host and parasite lipid metabolism and provide a comprehensive analysis of P. falciparum lipids with candidate pathways for drug discovery efforts.
Collapse
|
39
|
Witola WH, Cooks-Fagbodun S, Ordonez AR, Matthews K, Abugri DA, McHugh M. Knockdown of phosphoethanolamine transmethylation enzymes decreases viability of Haemonchus contortus. Vet Parasitol 2016; 223:1-6. [PMID: 27198768 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The phosphobase methylation pathway, in which phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferases (PMTs) successively catalyze the methylation of phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine, is essential in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Two PMT-encoding genes (HcPMT1 and HcPMT2) cloned from Haemonchus contortus have been shown, by in vitro assays, to possess enzymatic characteristics similar to those of C. elegans PMTs, but their physiological significance in H. contortus is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we endeavored to determine the importance of HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 in the survival of H. contortus by adapting the use of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMO) antisense approach to block the translation of HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 in the worms. We found that PPMOs targeting HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 down-regulated the expression of HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 proteins in adult H. contortus. Analysis of the effect of HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 knockdown showed that it significantly decreased worm motility and viability, thus validating HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 as essential enzymes for survival of H. contortus. Studies of gene function in H. contortus have been constrained by limited forward and reverse genetic technologies for use in H. contortus. Thus, our success in adaptation of use of PPMO antisense approach in H. contortus provides an important reverse genetic technological advance for studying this parasitic nematode of veterinary significance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William H Witola
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
| | - Sheritta Cooks-Fagbodun
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
| | - Adriana Reyes Ordonez
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
| | - Kwame Matthews
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
| | - Daniel A Abugri
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
| | - Mark McHugh
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Tran PN, Brown SHJ, Rug M, Ridgway MC, Mitchell TW, Maier AG. Changes in lipid composition during sexual development of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2016; 15:73. [PMID: 26852399 PMCID: PMC4744411 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1130-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The development of differentiated sexual stages (gametocytes) within human red blood cells is essential for the propagation of the malaria parasite, since only mature gametocytes will survive in the mosquito’s midgut. Hence gametocytogenesis is a pre-requisite for transmission of the disease. Physiological changes involved in sexual differentiation are still enigmatic. In particular the lipid metabolism—despite being central to cellular regulation and development—is not well explored. Methods Here the lipid profiles of red blood cells infected with the five different sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum were analysed by mass spectrometry and compared to those from uninfected and asexual trophozoite infected erythrocytes. Results Fundamental differences between erythrocytes infected with the different parasite stages were revealed. In mature gametocytes many lipids that decrease in the trophozoite and early gametocyte infected red blood cells are regained. In particular, regulators of membrane fluidity, cholesterol and sphingomyelin, increased significantly during gametocyte maturation. Neutral lipids (serving mainly as caloriometric reserves) increased from 3 % of total lipids in uninfected to 27 % in stage V gametocyte infected red blood cells. The major membrane lipid class (phospholipids) decreased during gametocyte development. Conclusions The lipid profiles of infected erythrocytes are characteristic for the particular parasite life cycle and maturity stages of gametocytes. The obtained lipid profiles are crucial in revealing the lipid metabolism of malaria parasites and identifying targets to interfere with this deadly disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1130-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phuong N Tran
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. .,La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Simon H J Brown
- School of Medicine and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - Melanie Rug
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. .,Centre for Advanced Microscopy, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Melanie C Ridgway
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Todd W Mitchell
- School of Medicine and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - Alexander G Maier
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Witola WH, Matthews K, McHugh M. In vitro anthelmintic efficacy of inhibitors of phosphoethanolamine Methyltransferases in Haemonchus contortus. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2016; 6:44-53. [PMID: 27054063 PMCID: PMC4805780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The essential phosphobase methylation pathway for synthesis of phosphocholine is unique to nematodes, protozoa and plants, and thus an attractive antiparasitic molecular target. Herein, we screened compounds from the National Cancer Institute (Developmental Therapeutics Program Open Chemical Repository) for specific inhibitory activity against Haemonchus contortus phosphoethanolamine methyltransferases (HcPMT1 and HcPMT2), and tested candidate compounds for anthelmintic activity against adult and third-stage larvae of H. contortus. We identified compound NSC-641296 with IC50 values of 8.3 ± 1.1 μM and 5.1 ± 1.8 μM for inhibition of the catalytic activity of HcPMT1 alone and HcPMT1/HcPMT2 combination, respectively. Additionally we identified compound NSC-668394 with inhibitory IC50 values of 5.9 ± 0.9 μM and 2.8 ± 0.6 μM for HcPMT1 alone and HcPMT1/HcPMT2 combination, respectively. Of the two compounds, NSC-641296 depicted significant anthelmintic activity against third-stage larvae (IC50 = 15 ± 2.9 μM) and adult stages (IC50 = 7 ± 2.9 μM) of H. contortus, with optimal effective in vitro concentrations being 2-fold and 4-fold, respectively, lower than its cytotoxic IC50 (29 ± 2.1 μM) in a mammalian cell line. Additionally, we identified two compounds, NSC-158011 and NSC-323241, with low inhibitory activity against the combined activity of HcPMT1 and HcPMT2, but both compounds did not show any anthelmintic activity against H. contortus. The identification of NSC-641296 that specifically inhibits a unique biosynthetic pathway in H. contortus and has anthelmintic activity against both larval and adult stages of H. contortus, provides impetus for the development of urgently needed new efficacious anthelmintics to address the prevailing problem of anthelmintic-resistant H. contortus. NSC-641296 and NSC-668394 inhibit HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 enzymes in Haemonchus contortus. NSC-641296 has in vitro anthelmintic activity against larvae and adult H. contortus. H. contortus HcPMT1 and HcPMT2 are two unique targets for anthelmintic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William H Witola
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
| | - Kwame Matthews
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
| | - Mark McHugh
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Choi JY, Kumar V, Pachikara N, Garg A, Lawres L, Toh JY, Voelker DR, Ben Mamoun C. Characterization of Plasmodium phosphatidylserine decarboxylase expressed in yeast and application for inhibitor screening. Mol Microbiol 2015; 99:999-1014. [PMID: 26585333 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Phospholipid biosynthesis is critical for the development, differentiation and pathogenesis of several eukaryotic pathogens. Genetic studies have validated the pathway for phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis from phosphatidylserine catalyzed by phosphatidylserine decarboxylase enzymes (PSD) as a suitable target for development of antimicrobials; however no inhibitors of this class of enzymes have been discovered. We show that the Plasmodium falciparum PSD can restore the essential function of the yeast gene in strains requiring PSD for growth. Genetic, biochemical and metabolic analyses demonstrate that amino acids between positions 40 and 70 of the parasite enzyme are critical for proenzyme processing and decarboxylase activity. We used the essential role of Plasmodium PSD in yeast as a tool for screening a library of anti-malarials. One of these compounds is 7-chloro-N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-quinolinamine, an inhibitor with potent activity against P. falciparum, and low toxicity toward mammalian cells. We synthesized an analog of this compound and showed that it inhibits PfPSD activity and eliminates Plasmodium yoelii infection in mice. These results highlight the importance of 4-quinolinamines as a novel class of drugs targeting membrane biogenesis via inhibition of PSD activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Yeon Choi
- Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson St, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Vidya Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Niseema Pachikara
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Aprajita Garg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Lauren Lawres
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Justin Y Toh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Dennis R Voelker
- Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson St, Denver, CO 80206, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Josling GA, Llinás M. Sexual development in Plasmodium parasites: knowing when it's time to commit. Nat Rev Microbiol 2015; 13:573-87. [DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
|
44
|
Bhartiya D, Chandramouli B, Kumar N. Co-evolutionary analysis implies auxiliary functions of HSP110 in Plasmodium falciparum. Proteins 2015; 83:1513-25. [DOI: 10.1002/prot.24842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deeksha Bhartiya
- Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICMR); Noida 201301 Uttar Pradesh India
| | | | - Niti Kumar
- CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow 226031 Uttar Pradesh India
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Kumar S, Kumari R, Pandey R. New insight-guided approaches to detect, cure, prevent and eliminate malaria. PROTOPLASMA 2015; 252:717-753. [PMID: 25323622 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-014-0697-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
New challenges posed by the development of resistance against artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as well as previous first-line therapies, and the continuing absence of vaccine, have given impetus to research in all areas of malaria control. This review portrays the ongoing progress in several directions of malaria research. The variants of RTS,S and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) are being developed and test adapted as multicomponent and multistage malaria control vaccines, while many other vaccine candidates and methodologies to produce antigens are under experimentation. To track and prevent the spread of artemisinin resistance from Southeast Asia to other parts of the world, rolling circle-enhanced enzyme activity detection (REEAD), a time- and cost-effective malaria diagnosis in field conditions, and a DNA marker associated with artemisinin resistance have become available. Novel mosquito repellents and mosquito trapping and killing techniques much more effective than the prevalent ones are undergoing field testing. Mosquito lines stably infected with their symbiotic wild-type or genetically engineered bacteria that kill sympatric malaria parasites are being constructed and field tested for stopping malaria transmission. A complementary approach being pursued is the addition of ivermectin-like drug molecules to ACTs to cure malaria and kill mosquitoes. Experiments are in progress to eradicate malaria mosquito by making it genetically male sterile. High-throughput screening procedures are being developed and used to discover molecules that possess long in vivo half life and are active against liver and blood stages for the fast cure of malaria symptoms caused by simple or relapsing and drug-sensitive and drug-resistant types of varied malaria parasites, can stop gametocytogenesis and sporogony and could be given in one dose. Target-based antimalarial drug designing has begun. Some of the putative next-generation antimalarials that possess in their scaffold structure several of the desired properties of malaria cure and control are exemplified by OZ439, NITD609, ELQ300 and tafenoquine that are already undergoing clinical trials, and decoquinate, usnic acid, torin-2, ferroquine, WEHI-916, MMV396749 and benzothiophene-type N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) inhibitors, which are candidates for future clinical usage. Among these, NITD609, ELQ300, decoquinate, usnic acid, torin-2 and NMT inhibitors not only cure simple malaria and are prophylactic against simple malaria, but they also cure relapsing malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Kumar
- SKA Institution for Research, Education and Development (SKAIRED), 4/11 SarvPriya Vihar, New Delhi, 110016, India,
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Contet A, Pihan E, Lavigne M, Wengelnik K, Maheshwari S, Vial H, Douguet D, Cerdan R. Plasmodium falciparum CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase possesses two functional catalytic domains and is inhibited by a CDP-choline analog selected from a virtual screening. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:992-1000. [PMID: 25771858 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Phosphatidylcholine is the major lipid component of the malaria parasite membranes and is required for parasite multiplication in human erythrocytes. Plasmodium falciparum CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (PfCCT) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis pathway and thus considered as a potential antimalarial target. In contrast to its mammalian orthologs, PfCCT contains a duplicated catalytic domain. Here, we show that both domains are catalytically active with similar kinetic parameters. A virtual screening strategy allowed the identification of a drug-size molecule competitively inhibiting the enzyme. This compound also prevented phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in parasites and exerted an antimalarial effect. This study constitutes the first step towards a rationalized design of future new antimalarial agents targeting PfCCT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Contet
- Université Montpellier, CNRS, Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR 5235, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Emilie Pihan
- CNRS, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR 7275, 660, route des Lucioles, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Marina Lavigne
- Université Montpellier, CNRS, Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR 5235, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Kai Wengelnik
- Université Montpellier, CNRS, Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR 5235, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Sweta Maheshwari
- Université Montpellier, CNRS, Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR 5235, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Henri Vial
- Université Montpellier, CNRS, Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR 5235, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Dominique Douguet
- CNRS, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR 7275, 660, route des Lucioles, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.
| | - Rachel Cerdan
- Université Montpellier, CNRS, Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR 5235, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Garg A, Lukk T, Kumar V, Choi JY, Augagneur Y, Voelker DR, Nair S, Ben Mamoun C. Structure, function and inhibition of the phosphoethanolamine methyltransferases of the human malaria parasites Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9064. [PMID: 25761669 PMCID: PMC4357015 DOI: 10.1038/srep09064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoethanolamine methyltransferases (PMTs) catalyze the three-step methylation of phosphoethanolamine to form phosphocholine, a critical step in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine in a select number of eukaryotes including human malaria parasites, nematodes and plants. Genetic studies in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have shown that the methyltransferase PfPMT plays a critical function in parasite development and differentiation. The presence of PMT orthologs in other malaria parasites that infect humans and their absence in mammals make them ideal targets for the development of selective antimalarials with broad specificity against different Plasmodium species. Here we describe the X-ray structures and biochemical properties of PMT orthologs from Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi and show that both enzymes are inhibited by amodiaquine and NSC158011, two drugs with potent antimalarial activity. Metabolic studies in a yeast mutant that relies on PkPMT or PvPMT for survival demonstrated that these compounds inhibit phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis from ethanolamine. Our structural and functional data provide insights into the mechanism of catalysis and inhibition of PMT enzymes and set the stage for a better design of more specific and selective antimalarial drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aprajita Garg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, 06520 USA
| | - Tiit Lukk
- 1] Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [2] Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University
| | - Vidya Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, 06520 USA
| | - Jae-Yeon Choi
- Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206
| | - Yoann Augagneur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, 06520 USA
| | - Dennis R Voelker
- Basic Science Section, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206
| | - Satish Nair
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, 06520 USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Saen-Oon S, Lee SG, Jez JM, Guallar V. An alternative mechanism for the methylation of phosphoethanolamine catalyzed by Plasmodium falciparum phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:33815-25. [PMID: 25288796 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.611319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphobase methylation pathway catalyzed by the phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase in Plasmodium falciparum (PfPMT), the malaria parasite, offers an attractive target for anti-parasitic drug development. PfPMT methylates phosphoethanolamine (pEA) to phosphocholine for use in membrane biogenesis. Quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations tested the proposed reaction mechanism for methylation of pEA involving the previously identified Tyr-19-His-132 dyad, which indicated an energetically unfavorable mechanism. Instead, the QM/MM calculations suggested an alternative mechanism involving Asp-128. The reaction coordinate involves the stepwise transfer of a proton to Asp-128 via a bridging water molecule followed by a typical Sn2-type methyl transfer from S-adenosylmethionine to pEA. Functional analysis of the D128A, D128E, D128Q, and D128N PfPMT mutants shows a loss of activity with pEA but not with the final substrate of the methylation pathway. X-ray crystal structures of the PfPMT-D128A mutant in complex with S-adenosylhomocysteine and either pEA or phosphocholine reveal how mutation of Asp-128 disrupts a hydrogen bond network in the active site. The combined QM/MM, biochemical, and structural studies identify a key role for Asp-128 in the initial step of the phosphobase methylation pathway in Plasmodium and provide molecular insight on the evolution of multiple activities in the active site of the PMT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suwipa Saen-Oon
- From the Joint Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centre for Genomic Regulation-Institute for Research in Biomedicine Research Program, Carrer de Jordi Girona 29, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Soon Goo Lee
- the Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, and
| | - Joseph M Jez
- the Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, and
| | - Victor Guallar
- From the Joint Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centre for Genomic Regulation-Institute for Research in Biomedicine Research Program, Carrer de Jordi Girona 29, 08034 Barcelona, Spain, the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Sanders NG, Sullivan DJ, Mlambo G, Dimopoulos G, Tripathi AK. Gametocytocidal screen identifies novel chemical classes with Plasmodium falciparum transmission blocking activity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105817. [PMID: 25157792 PMCID: PMC4144897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovery of transmission blocking compounds is an important intervention strategy necessary to eliminate and eradicate malaria. To date only a small number of drugs that inhibit gametocyte development and thereby transmission from the mosquito to the human host exist. This limitation is largely due to a lack of screening assays easily adaptable to high throughput because of multiple incubation steps or the requirement for high gametocytemia. Here we report the discovery of new compounds with gametocytocidal activity using a simple and robust SYBR Green I- based DNA assay. Our assay utilizes the exflagellation step in male gametocytes and a background suppressor, which masks the staining of dead cells to achieve healthy signal to noise ratio by increasing signal of viable parasites and subtracting signal from dead parasites. By determining the contribution of exflagellation to fluorescent signal and using appropriate cutoff values, we were able to screen for gametocytocidal compounds. After assay validation and optimization, we screened an FDA approved drug library of approximately 1500 compounds, as well as the 400 compound MMV malaria box and identified 44 gametocytocidal compounds with sub to low micromolar IC50s. Major classes of compounds with gametocytocidal activity included quaternary ammonium compounds with structural similarity to choline, acridine-like compounds similar to quinacrine and pyronaridine, as well as antidepressant, antineoplastic, and anthelminthic compounds. Top drug candidates showed near complete transmission blocking in membrane feeding assays. This assay is simple, reproducible and demonstrated robust Z-factor values at low gametocytemia levels, making it amenable to HTS for identification of novel and potent gametocytocidal compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie G. Sanders
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David J. Sullivan
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Godfree Mlambo
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - George Dimopoulos
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Abhai K. Tripathi
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Abstract
Despite a century of control and eradication campaigns, malaria remains one of the world's most devastating diseases. Our once-powerful therapeutic weapons are losing the war against the Plasmodium parasite, whose ability to rapidly develop and spread drug resistance hamper past and present malaria-control efforts. Finding new and effective treatments for malaria is now a top global health priority, fuelling an increase in funding and promoting open-source collaborations between researchers and pharmaceutical consortia around the world. The result of this is rapid advances in drug discovery approaches and technologies, with three major methods for antimalarial drug development emerging: (i) chemistry-based, (ii) target-based, and (iii) cell-based. Common to all three of these approaches is the unique ability of structural biology to inform and accelerate drug development. Where possible, SBDD (structure-based drug discovery) is a foundation for antimalarial drug development programmes, and has been invaluable to the development of a number of current pre-clinical and clinical candidates. However, as we expand our understanding of the malarial life cycle and mechanisms of resistance development, SBDD as a field must continue to evolve in order to develop compounds that adhere to the ideal characteristics for novel antimalarial therapeutics and to avoid high attrition rates pre- and post-clinic. In the present review, we aim to examine the contribution that SBDD has made to current antimalarial drug development efforts, covering hit discovery to lead optimization and prevention of parasite resistance. Finally, the potential for structural biology, particularly high-throughput structural genomics programmes, to identify future targets for drug discovery are discussed.
Collapse
|