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Lyimo BM, Bakari C, Popkin-Hall ZR, Giesbrecht DJ, Seth MD, Pereus D, Shabani ZI, Moshi R, Boniface R, Mandara CI, Madebe R, Juliano JJ, Bailey JA, Ishengoma DS. Genetic polymorphism and evidence of signatures of selection in the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein gene in Tanzanian regions with different malaria endemicity. Malar J 2024; 23:139. [PMID: 38720288 PMCID: PMC11080125 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04974-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2021 and 2023, the World Health Organization approved RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix M malaria vaccines, respectively, for routine immunization of children in African countries with moderate to high transmission. These vaccines are made of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), but polymorphisms in the gene raise concerns regarding strain-specific responses and the long-term efficacy of these vaccines. This study assessed the Pfcsp genetic diversity, population structure and signatures of selection among parasites from areas of different malaria transmission intensities in Mainland Tanzania, to generate baseline data before the introduction of the malaria vaccines in the country. METHODS The analysis involved 589 whole genome sequences generated by and as part of the MalariaGEN Community Project. The samples were collected between 2013 and January 2015 from five regions of Mainland Tanzania: Morogoro and Tanga (Muheza) (moderate transmission areas), and Kagera (Muleba), Lindi (Nachingwea), and Kigoma (Ujiji) (high transmission areas). Wright's inbreeding coefficient (Fws), Wright's fixation index (FST), principal component analysis, nucleotide diversity, and Tajima's D were used to assess within-host parasite diversity, population structure and natural selection. RESULTS Based on Fws (< 0.95), there was high polyclonality (ranging from 69.23% in Nachingwea to 56.9% in Muheza). No population structure was detected in the Pfcsp gene in the five regions (mean FST = 0.0068). The average nucleotide diversity (π), nucleotide differentiation (K) and haplotype diversity (Hd) in the five regions were 4.19, 0.973 and 0.0035, respectively. The C-terminal region of Pfcsp showed high nucleotide diversity at Th2R and Th3R regions. Positive values for the Tajima's D were observed in the Th2R and Th3R regions consistent with balancing selection. The Pfcsp C-terminal sequences revealed 50 different haplotypes (H_1 to H_50), with only 2% of sequences matching the 3D7 strain haplotype (H_50). Conversely, with the NF54 strain, the Pfcsp C-terminal sequences revealed 49 different haplotypes (H_1 to H_49), with only 0.4% of the sequences matching the NF54 strain (Hap_49). CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate high diversity of the Pfcsp gene with limited population differentiation. The Pfcsp gene showed positive Tajima's D values, consistent with balancing selection for variants within Th2R and Th3R regions. The study observed differences between the intended haplotypes incorporated into the design of RTS,S and R21 vaccines and those present in natural parasite populations. Therefore, additional research is warranted, incorporating other regions and more recent data to comprehensively assess trends in genetic diversity within this important gene. Such insights will inform the choice of alleles to be included in the future vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatus M Lyimo
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania.
| | - Catherine Bakari
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Misago D Seth
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Dativa Pereus
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Zulfa I Shabani
- Dar Es Salaam University College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ramadhan Moshi
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ruth Boniface
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Celine I Mandara
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rashid Madebe
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Deus S Ishengoma
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Lyimo BM, Bakari C, Popkin-Hall ZR, Giesbrecht DJ, Seth MD, Pereus D, Moshi R, Boniface R, Mandara CI, Madebe R, Juliano JJ, Bailey JA, Ishengoma DS. Genetic polymorphism and evidence of signatures of selection in the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein gene in Tanzanian regions with different malaria endemicity. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.01.23.24301587. [PMID: 38343796 PMCID: PMC10854334 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.23.24301587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Background In 2021 and 2023, the World Health Organization approved RTS, S/AS01 and R21/Matrix M malaria vaccines, respectively, for routine immunization of children in African countries with moderate to high transmission. These vaccines are made of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (Pfcsp) but polymorphisms in this gene raises concerns regarding strain-specific responses and the long-term efficacy of these vaccines. This study assessed the Pfcsp genetic diversity, population structure and signatures of selection among parasites from areas of different malaria transmission in mainland Tanzania, to generate baseline data before the introduction of the malaria vaccines in the country. Methods The analysis involved 589 whole genome sequences generated by and as part of the MalariaGEN Community Project. The samples were collected between 2013 and January 2015 from five regions of mainland Tanzania: Morogoro and Tanga (Muheza) (moderate transmission areas), and Kagera (Muleba), Lindi (Nachingwea), and Kigoma (Ujiji) (high transmission areas). Wright's inbreeding coefficient (Fws), Wright's fixation index (FST), principal component analysis, nucleotide diversity, and Tajima's D were used to assess within-host parasite diversity, population structure and natural selection. Results Based on Fws (< 0.95), there was high polyclonality (ranged from 69.23% in Nachingwea to 56.9% in Muheza). No population structure was detected in the Pfcsp gene in the five regions (mean FST= 0.0068). The average nucleotide diversity (π), nucleotide differentiation (K) and haplotype diversity (Hd) in the five regions were 4.19, 0.973 and 0.0035, respectively. The C-terminal region of Pfcsp showed high nucleotide diversity at Th2R and Th3R regions. Positive values for the Tajima's D were observed in the Th2R and Th3R regions consistent with balancing selection. The Pfcsp C-terminal sequences had 50 different haplotypes (H_1 to H_50) and only 2% of sequences matched the 3D7 strain haplotype (H_50). Conclusions The findings demonstrate high diversity of the Pfcsp gene with limited population differentiation. The Pfcsp gene showed positive Tajima's D values for parasite populations, consistent with balancing selection for variants within Th2R and Th3R regions. This data is consistent with other studies conducted across Africa and worldwide, which demonstrate low 3D7 haplotypes and little population structure. Therefore, additional research is warranted, incorporating other regions and more recent data to comprehensively assess trends in genetic diversity within this important gene. Such insights will inform the choice of alleles to be included in the future vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatus M. Lyimo
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Catherine Bakari
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Misago D. Seth
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Dativa Pereus
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ramadhan Moshi
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ruth Boniface
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Rashid Madebe
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Deus S. Ishengoma
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Geens R, Stanisich J, Beyens O, D'Hondt S, Thiberge J, Ryckebosch A, De Groot A, Magez S, Vertommen D, Amino R, De Winter H, Volkov AN, Tompa P, Sterckx YG. Biophysical characterization of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein's N-terminal domain. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4852. [PMID: 38059674 PMCID: PMC10749493 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the main surface antigen of the Plasmodium sporozoite (SPZ) and forms the basis of the currently only licensed anti-malarial vaccine (RTS,S/AS01). CSP uniformly coats the SPZ and plays a pivotal role in its immunobiology, in both the insect and the vertebrate hosts. Although CSP's N-terminal domain (CSPN ) has been reported to play an important role in multiple CSP functions, a thorough biophysical and structural characterization of CSPN is currently lacking. Here, we present an alternative method for the recombinant production and purification of CSPN from Plasmodium falciparum (PfCSPN ), which provides pure, high-quality protein preparations with high yields. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining in-solution experimental methods and in silico analyses, we provide strong evidence that PfCSPN is an intrinsically disordered region displaying some degree of compaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob Geens
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
- Structural Biology BrusselsVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Jessica Stanisich
- Cellular and Molecular ImmunologyVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Olivier Beyens
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Stijn D'Hondt
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | | | - Amber Ryckebosch
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Anke De Groot
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Stefan Magez
- Cellular and Molecular ImmunologyVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- Ghent University Global CampusIncheonSouth Korea
| | - Didier Vertommen
- de Duve Institute and MASSPROT Platform, UCLouvainBrusselsBelgium
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection & ImmunityInstitut PasteurParisFrance
| | - Hans De Winter
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Alexander N. Volkov
- Structural Biology BrusselsVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- VIB‐VUB Center for Structural BiologyVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB)BrusselsBelgium
- Jean Jeener NMR CentreVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Peter Tompa
- Structural Biology BrusselsVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- VIB‐VUB Center for Structural BiologyVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB)BrusselsBelgium
- Institute of Enzymology, Biological Research CenterHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Yann G.‐J. Sterckx
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB)University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
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Xia M, Huang P, Vago F, Jiang W, Tan M. Pseudovirus Nanoparticles Displaying Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Proteins Elicited High Titers of Sporozoite-Binding Antibody. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1650. [PMID: 38005982 PMCID: PMC10674615 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11111650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites remains a public health threat. The circumsporozoite proteins (CSPs) of Plasmodium sporozoite play a key role in Plasmodium infection, serving as an excellent vaccine target. METHODS using a self-assembled S60 nanoparticle platform, we generated pseudovirus nanoparticles (PVNPs) displaying CSPs, named S-CSPs, for enhanced immunogenicity. RESULTS purified Hisx6-tagged or tag-free S-CSPs self-assembled into PVNPs that consist of a norovirus S60 inner shell and multiple surface-displayed CSPs. The majority of the PVNPs measured ~27 nm with some size variations, and their three-dimensional structure was modeled. The PVNP-displayed CSPs retained their glycan receptor-binding function. A mouse immunization study showed that PVNPs induced a high antibody response against CSP antigens and the PVNP-immunized mouse sera stained the CSPs of Plasmodium sporozoites at high titer. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION the PVNP-displayed CSPs retain their authentic antigenic feature and receptor-binding function. The CSP-specific antibody elicited by the S-CSP PVNPs binds original CSPs and potentially inhibits the attachment of Plasmodium sporozoites to their host cells, a key step for liver invasion by the sporozoites. Thus, S-CSP PVNPs may be an excellent vaccine candidate against malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Frank Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Ming Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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Pendyala G, Calvo‐Calle JM, Moreno A, Kane RS. A multivalent Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based nanoparticle malaria vaccine elicits a robust and durable antibody response against the junctional epitope and the major repeats. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10514. [PMID: 37476056 PMCID: PMC10354751 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria continues to cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is a particularly attractive candidate for designing vaccines that target sporozoites-the first vertebrate stage in a malaria infection. Current PfCSP-based vaccines, however, do not include epitopes that have recently been shown to be the target of potent neutralizing antibodies. We report the design of a SpyCatcher-mi3-nanoparticle-based vaccine presenting multiple copies of a chimeric PfCSP (cPfCSP) antigen that incorporates these important "T1/junctional" epitopes as well as a reduced number of (NANP)n repeats. cPfCSP-SpyCatcher-mi3 was immunogenic in mice eliciting high and durable IgG antibody levels as well as a balanced antibody response against the T1/junctional region and the (NANP)n repeats. Notably, the antibody concentration elicited by immunization was significantly greater than the reported protective threshold defined in a murine challenge model. Refocusing the immune response toward functionally relevant subdominant epitopes to induce a more balanced and durable immune response may enable the design of a more effective second generation PfCSP-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Pendyala
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia30332USA
| | - J. Mauricio Calvo‐Calle
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusetts01655USA
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory National Primate Research CenterEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia30329USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of MedicineEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia30303USA
| | - Ravi S. Kane
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia30332USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgia30332USA
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Xia M, Vago F, Han L, Huang P, Nguyen L, Boons GJ, Klassen JS, Jiang W, Tan M. The αTSR Domain of Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Protein Bound Heparan Sulfates and Elicited High Titers of Sporozoite Binding Antibody After Displayed by Nanoparticles. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:3087-3107. [PMID: 37312932 PMCID: PMC10259582 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s406314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria is a devastating infectious illness caused by protozoan Plasmodium parasites. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) on Plasmodium sporozoites binds heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) receptors for liver invasion, a critical step for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Methods In this study, we characterized the αTSR domain that covers region III and the thrombospondin type-I repeat (TSR) of the CSP using various biochemical, glycobiological, bioengineering, and immunological approaches. Results We found for the first time that the αTSR bound heparan sulfate (HS) glycans through support by a fused protein, indicating that the αTSR is a key functional domain and thus a vaccine target. When the αTSR was fused to the S domain of norovirus VP1, the fusion protein self-assembled into uniform S60-αTSR nanoparticles. Three-dimensional structure reconstruction revealed that each nanoparticle consists of an S60 nanoparticle core and 60 surface displayed αTSR antigens. The nanoparticle displayed αTSRs retained the binding function to HS glycans, indicating that they maintained authentic conformations. Both tagged and tag-free S60-αTSR nanoparticles were produced via the Escherichia coli system at high yield by scalable approaches. They are highly immunogenic in mice, eliciting high titers of αTSR-specific antibody that bound specifically to the CSPs of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites at high titer. Discussion and Conclusion Our data demonstrated that the αTSR is an important functional domain of the CSP. The S60-αTSR nanoparticle displaying multiple αTSR antigens is a promising vaccine candidate potentially against attachment and infection of Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Frank Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ling Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Linh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Geert-Jan Boons
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - John S Klassen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ming Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Pulido-Quevedo FA, Arévalo-Pinzón G, Castañeda-Ramírez JJ, Barreto-Santamaría A, Patarroyo ME, Patarroyo MA. Plasmodium falciparum rhoptry neck protein 4 has conserved regions mediating interactions with receptors on human erythrocytes and hepatocyte membrane. Int J Med Microbiol 2023; 313:151579. [PMID: 37030083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2023.151579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum-related malaria represents a serious worldwide public health problem due to its high mortality rates. P. falciparum expresses rhoptry neck protein 4 (PfRON4) in merozoite and sporozoite rhoptries, it participates in tight junction-TJ formation via the AMA-1/RON complex and is refractory to complete genetic deletion. Despite this, which PfRON4 key regions interact with host cells remain unknown; such information would be useful for combating falciparum malaria. Thirty-two RON4 conserved region-derived peptides were chemically synthesised for determining and characterising PfRON4 regions having high host cell binding affinity (high activity binding peptides or HABPs). Receptor-ligand interaction/binding assays determined their specific binding capability, the nature of their receptors and their ability to inhibit in vitro parasite invasion. Peptides 42477, 42479, 42480, 42505 and 42513 had greater than 2% erythrocyte binding activity, whilst peptides 42477 and 42480 specifically bound to HepG2 membrane, both of them having micromolar and submicromolar range dissociation constants (Kd). Cell-peptide interaction was sensitive to treating erythrocytes with trypsin and/or chymotrypsin and HepG2 with heparinase I and chondroitinase ABC, suggesting protein-type (erythrocyte) and heparin and/or chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan receptors (HepG2) for PfRON4. Erythrocyte invasion inhibition assays confirmed HABPs' importance during merozoite invasion. PfRON4 800-819 (42477) and 860-879 (42480) regions specifically interacted with host cells, thereby supporting their inclusion in a subunit-based, multi-antigen, multistage anti-malarial vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredy A Pulido-Quevedo
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá, Colombia; MSc programme in Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 # 26-85, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gabriela Arévalo-Pinzón
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 # 40-62, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jeimmy J Castañeda-Ramírez
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Adriana Barreto-Santamaría
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá, Colombia; Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Calle 222 # 55-37, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel E Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá, Colombia; Health Sciences Division, Main Campus, Universidad Santo Tomás, Carrera 9 # 51-11, Bogotá, Colombia; Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 # 26-85, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá, Colombia; Health Sciences Division, Main Campus, Universidad Santo Tomás, Carrera 9 # 51-11, Bogotá, Colombia; Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 # 26-85, Bogotá, Colombia.
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MAEBL Contributes to Plasmodium Sporozoite Adhesiveness. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105711. [PMID: 35628522 PMCID: PMC9146008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The sole currently approved malaria vaccine targets the circumsporozoite protein-the protein that densely coats the surface of sporozoites, the parasite stage deposited in the skin of the mammalian host by infected mosquitoes. However, this vaccine only confers moderate protection against clinical diseases in children, impelling a continuous search for novel candidates. In this work, we studied the importance of the membrane-associated erythrocyte binding-like protein (MAEBL) for infection by Plasmodium sporozoites. Using transgenic parasites and live imaging in mice, we show that the absence of MAEBL reduces Plasmodium berghei hemolymph sporozoite infectivity to mice. Moreover, we found that maebl knockout (maebl-) sporozoites display reduced adhesion, including to cultured hepatocytes, which could contribute to the defects in multiple biological processes, such as in gliding motility, hepatocyte wounding, and invasion. The maebl- defective phenotypes in mosquito salivary gland and liver infection were reverted by genetic complementation. Using a parasite line expressing a C-terminal myc-tagged MAEBL, we found that MAEBL levels peak in midgut and hemolymph parasites but drop after sporozoite entry into the salivary glands, where the labeling was found to be heterogeneous among sporozoites. MAEBL was found associated, not only with micronemes, but also with the surface of mature sporozoites. Overall, our data provide further insight into the role of MAEBL in sporozoite infectivity and may contribute to the design of future immune interventions.
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9
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Zheng H, Lu X, Li K, Zhu F, Zhao C, Liu T, Ding Y, Fu Y, Zhang K, Zhou T, Dai J, Wu Y, Xu W. ATG Ubiquitination Is Required for Circumsporozoite Protein to Subvert Host Innate Immunity Against Rodent Malaria Liver Stage. Front Immunol 2022; 13:815936. [PMID: 35222391 PMCID: PMC8864237 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.815936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Although exo-erythrocytic forms (EEFs) of liver stage malaria parasite in the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) are encountered with robust host innate immunity, EEFs can still survive and successfully complete the infection of hepatocytes, and the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Here, we showed that sporozoite circumsporozoite protein (CSP) translocated from the parasitophorous vacuole into the hepatocyte cytoplasm significantly mediated the resistance to the killing of EEFs by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Attenuation of IFN-γ-mediated killing of EEFs by CSP was dependent on its ability to reduce the levels of autophagy-related genes (ATGs) in hepatocytes. The ATGs downregulation occurred through its enhanced ubiquitination mediated by E3 ligase NEDD4, an enzyme that was upregulated by CSP when it translocated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus of hepatocytes via its nuclear localization signal (NLS) domain. Thus, we have revealed an unrecognized role of CSP in subverting host innate immunity and shed new light for a prophylaxis strategy against liver-stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,The Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chenhao Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Taiping Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yong Fu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Taoli Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jigang Dai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuzhang Wu
- The Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, Chongqing, China
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10
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Langowski MD, Khan FA, Savransky S, Brown DR, Balasubramaniyam A, Harrison WB, Zou X, Beck Z, Matyas GR, Regules JA, Miller R, Soisson LA, Batchelor AH, Dutta S. Restricted valency (NPNA) n repeats and junctional epitope-based circumsporozoite protein vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:13. [PMID: 35087099 PMCID: PMC8795123 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00430-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Circumsporozoite Protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum contains an N-terminal region, a conserved Region I (RI), a junctional region, 25-42 copies of major (NPNA) and minor repeats followed by a C-terminal domain. The recently approved malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 contains NPNAx19 and the C-terminal region of CSP. The efficacy of RTS,S against natural infection is low and short-lived, and mapping epitopes of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies may allow for rational improvement of CSP vaccines. Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) was used here to display the junctional epitope (mAb CIS43), Region I (mAb 5D5), NPNAx5, and NPNAx20 epitope of CSP (mAbs 317 and 580). Protection studies in mice revealed that Region I did not elicit protective antibodies, and polyclonal antibodies against the junctional epitope showed equivalent protection to NPNAx5. Combining the junctional and NPNAx5 epitopes reduced immunogenicity and efficacy, and increasing the repeat valency to NPNAx20 did not improve upon NPNAx5. TMV was confirmed as a versatile vaccine platform for displaying small epitopes defined by neutralizing mAbs. We show that polyclonal antibodies against engineered VLPs can recapitulate the binding specificity of the mAbs and immune-focusing by reducing the structural complexity of an epitope may be superior to immune-broadening as a vaccine design approach. Most importantly the junctional and restricted valency NPNA epitopes can be the basis for developing highly effective second-generation malaria vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Langowski
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Farhat A Khan
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Sofya Savransky
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Dallas R Brown
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Arasu Balasubramaniyam
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - William B Harrison
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Zou
- Malaria Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Zoltan Beck
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
- Pfizer, 401N Middletown Rd, Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Gary R Matyas
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jason A Regules
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Robin Miller
- United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Adrian H Batchelor
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Sheetij Dutta
- Structural Vaccinology Lab, Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
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11
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Reeder SM, Bah MA, Tursi NJ, Brooks RC, Patel A, Esquivel R, Eaton A, Jhun H, Chu J, Kim K, Xu Z, Zavala F, Weiner DB. Strategic Variants of CSP Delivered as SynDNA Vaccines Demonstrate Heterogeneity of Immunogenicity and Protection from Plasmodium Infection in a Murine Model. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0072820. [PMID: 34152830 PMCID: PMC8445182 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00728-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria infects millions of people every year, and despite recent advances in controlling disease spread, such as vaccination, it remains a global health concern. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has long been acknowledged as a key target in antimalarial immunity. Leveraging the DNA vaccine platform against this formidable pathogen, the following five synthetic DNA vaccines encoding variations of CSP were designed and studied: 3D7, GPI1, ΔGPI, TM, and DD2. Among the single CSP antigen constructs, a range of immunogenicity was observed with ΔGPI generating the most robust immunity. In an intravenous (i.v.) sporozoite challenge, the best protection among vaccinated mice was achieved by ΔGPI, which performed almost as well as the monoclonal antibody 311 (MAb 311) antibody control. Further analyses revealed that ΔGPI develops high-molecular-weight multimers in addition to monomeric CSP. We then compared the immunity generated by ΔGPI versus synDNA mimics for the antimalaria vaccines RTS,S and R21. The anti-CSP antibody responses induced were similar among these three immunogens. T cell responses demonstrated that ΔGPI induced a more focused anti-CSP response. In an infectious mosquito challenge, all three of these constructs generated inhibition of liver-stage infection as well as immunity from blood-stage parasitemia. This study demonstrates that synDNA mimics of complex malaria immunogens can provide substantial protection as can a novel synDNA vaccine ΔGPI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M. Reeder
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mamadou A. Bah
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Tursi
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rebekah C. Brooks
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ami Patel
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rianne Esquivel
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alison Eaton
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hugo Jhun
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacqueline Chu
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin Kim
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ziyang Xu
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David B. Weiner
- The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Vaccine Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Sharma M, Choudhury H, Roy R, Michaels SA, Ojo KK, Bansal A. CDPKs: The critical decoders of calcium signal at various stages of malaria parasite development. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:5092-5107. [PMID: 34589185 PMCID: PMC8453137 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.08.054] [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: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium ions are used as important signals during various physiological processes. In malaria parasites, Plasmodium spp., calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) have acquired the unique ability to sense and transduce calcium signals at various critical steps during the lifecycle, either through phosphorylation of downstream substrates or mediating formation of high molecular weight protein complexes. Calcium signaling cascades establish important crosstalk events with signaling pathways mediated by other secondary messengers such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). CDPKs play critical roles at various important physiological steps during parasite development in vertebrates and mosquitoes. They are also important for transmission of the parasite between the two hosts. Combined with the fact that CDPKs are not present in humans, they continue to be pursued as important targets for development of anti-malarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Sharma
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Himashree Choudhury
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rajarshi Roy
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Samantha A. Michaels
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
| | - Abhisheka Bansal
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
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13
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Tan J, Cho H, Pholcharee T, Pereira LS, Doumbo S, Doumtabe D, Flynn BJ, Schön A, Kanatani S, Aylor SO, Oyen D, Vistein R, Wang L, Dillon M, Skinner J, Peterson M, Li S, Idris AH, Molina-Cruz A, Zhao M, Olano LR, Lee PJ, Roth A, Sinnis P, Barillas-Mury C, Kayentao K, Ongoiba A, Francica JR, Traore B, Wilson IA, Seder RA, Crompton PD. Functional human IgA targets a conserved site on malaria sporozoites. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabg2344. [PMID: 34162751 PMCID: PMC7611206 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg2344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Immunoglobulin (Ig)A antibodies play a critical role in protection against mucosal pathogens. However, the role of serum IgA in immunity to nonmucosal pathogens, such as Plasmodium falciparum, is poorly characterized, despite being the second most abundant isotype in blood after IgG. Here, we investigated the circulating IgA response in humans to P. falciparum sporozoites that are injected into the skin by mosquitoes and migrate to the liver via the bloodstream to initiate malaria infection. We found that circulating IgA was induced in three independent sporozoite-exposed cohorts: individuals living in an endemic region in Mali, malaria-naïve individuals immunized intravenously with three large doses of irradiated sporozoites, and malaria-naïve individuals exposed to a single controlled mosquito bite infection. Mechanistically, we found evidence in an animal model that IgA responses were induced by sporozoites at dermal inoculation sites. From malaria-resistant individuals, we isolated several IgA monoclonal antibodies that reduced liver parasite burden in mice. One antibody, MAD2-6, bound to a conserved epitope in the amino terminus of the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein, the dominant protein on the sporozoite surface. Crystal structures of this antibody revealed a unique mode of binding whereby two Fabs simultaneously bound either side of the target peptide. This study reveals a role for circulating IgA in malaria and identifies the amino terminus of the circumsporozoite protein as a target of functional antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Tan
- Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
| | - Hyeseon Cho
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Tossapol Pholcharee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lais S Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Safiatou Doumbo
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, BP 1805, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Didier Doumtabe
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, BP 1805, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Barbara J Flynn
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Arne Schön
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sachie Kanatani
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Samantha O Aylor
- Department of Drug Discovery, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - David Oyen
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Rachel Vistein
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lawrence Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marlon Dillon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeff Skinner
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Mary Peterson
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Shanping Li
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Azza H Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Biological Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Ming Zhao
- Protein Chemistry Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Lisa Renee Olano
- Protein Chemistry Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Patricia J Lee
- Department of Drug Discovery, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Alison Roth
- Department of Drug Discovery, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Kassoum Kayentao
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, BP 1805, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Aissata Ongoiba
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, BP 1805, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Joseph R Francica
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Boubacar Traore
- Mali International Center of Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Technique and Technology of Bamako, BP 1805, Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Ian A Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter D Crompton
- Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
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14
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Loubens M, Vincensini L, Fernandes P, Briquet S, Marinach C, Silvie O. Plasmodium sporozoites on the move: Switching from cell traversal to productive invasion of hepatocytes. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:870-881. [PMID: 33191548 PMCID: PMC8247013 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Plasmodium, the etiological agent of malaria, are transmitted through the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, which deposit sporozoites into the host skin. Sporozoites migrate through the dermis, enter the bloodstream, and rapidly traffic to the liver. They cross the liver sinusoidal barrier and traverse several hepatocytes before switching to productive invasion of a final one for replication inside a parasitophorous vacuole. Cell traversal and productive invasion are functionally independent processes that require proteins secreted from specialized secretory organelles known as micronemes. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how sporozoites traverse through cells and productively invade hepatocytes, and discuss the role of environmental sensing in switching from a migratory to an invasive state. We propose that timely controlled secretion of distinct microneme subsets could play a key role in successful migration and infection of hepatocytes. A better understanding of these essential biological features of the Plasmodium sporozoite may contribute to the development of new strategies to fight against the very first and asymptomatic stage of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Loubens
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Laetitia Vincensini
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Priyanka Fernandes
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Sylvie Briquet
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Carine Marinach
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
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15
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Boonkaew T, Mongkol W, Prasert S, Paochan P, Yoneda S, Nguitragool W, Kumpitak C, Sattabongkot J, Kubera A. Transcriptome analysis of Anopheles dirus and Plasmodium vivax at ookinete and oocyst stages. Acta Trop 2020; 207:105502. [PMID: 32320680 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is transmitted by Plasmodium parasites through the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. One of the most important mosquito vectors in the Greater Mekong Subregion is Anopheles dirus. This study reports RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) transcriptome analysis of An. dirus at 18 hours and 7 days after a P. vivax-infected blood meal, which represent infection at the ookinete and oocyst parasite developmental stages, respectively. Following infection, 582 An. dirus transcripts were modulated. The 2,408 P. vivax transcripts could be classified into ookinete-specific, two-stage, and oocyst-specific groups. Results were validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Gene ontology analysis of the vector and parasite revealed several biological pathways for both, providing a better understanding of Anopheles-Plasmodium interactions at the ookinete and oocyst stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tippawan Boonkaew
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Watcharakorn Mongkol
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Sureerat Prasert
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Pattaweeya Paochan
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Saki Yoneda
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate school of Engineering, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Chalermpon Kumpitak
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Anchanee Kubera
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand; Centre for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
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16
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Horta MF, Andrade LO, Martins-Duarte ÉS, Castro-Gomes T. Cell invasion by intracellular parasites - the many roads to infection. J Cell Sci 2020; 133:133/4/jcs232488. [PMID: 32079731 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.232488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites from the genera Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, Leishmania and from the phylum Microsporidia are, respectively, the causative agents of toxoplasmosis, malaria, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and microsporidiosis, illnesses that kill millions of people around the globe. Crossing the host cell plasma membrane (PM) is an obstacle these parasites must overcome to establish themselves intracellularly and so cause diseases. The mechanisms of cell invasion are quite diverse and include (1) formation of moving junctions that drive parasites into host cells, as for the protozoans Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp., (2) subversion of endocytic pathways used by the host cell to repair PM, as for Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania, (3) induction of phagocytosis as for Leishmania or (4) endocytosis of parasites induced by specialized structures, such as the polar tubes present in microsporidian species. Understanding the early steps of cell entry is essential for the development of vaccines and drugs for the prevention or treatment of these diseases, and thus enormous research efforts have been made to unveil their underlying biological mechanisms. This Review will focus on these mechanisms and the factors involved, with an emphasis on the recent insights into the cell biology of invasion by these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Fátima Horta
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Luciana Oliveira Andrade
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Érica Santos Martins-Duarte
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Thiago Castro-Gomes
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
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17
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Mohamed NS, Ali Albsheer MM, Abdelbagi H, Siddig EE, Mohamed MA, Ahmed AE, Omer RA, Muneer MS, Ahmed A, Osman HA, Ali MS, Eisa IM, Elbasheir MM. Genetic polymorphism of the N-terminal region in circumsporozoite surface protein of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from Sudan. Malar J 2019; 18:333. [PMID: 31570093 PMCID: PMC6771110 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2970-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasite is still known to be one of the most significant public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Genetic diversity of the Sudanese P. falciparum based on the diversity in the circumsporozoite surface protein (PfCSP) has not been previously studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of the N-terminal region of the pfcsp gene. Methods A cross-sectional molecular study was conducted; 50 blood samples have been analysed from different regions in Sudan. Patients were recruited from the health facilities of Khartoum, New Halfa, Red Sea, White Nile, Al Qadarif, Gezira, River Nile, and Ad Damazin during malaria transmission seasons between June to October and December to February 2017–2018. Microscopic and nested PCR was performed for detection of P. falciparum. Merozoite surface protein-1 was performed to differentiate single and multiple clonal infections. The N-terminal of the pfcsp gene has been sequenced using PCR-Sanger dideoxy method and analysed to sequences polymorphism including the numbers of haplotypes (H), segregating sites (S), haplotypes diversity (Hd) and the average number of nucleotide differences between two sequences (Pi) were obtained using the software DnaSP v5.10. As well as neutrality testing, Tajima’s D test, Fu and Li’s D and F statistics. Results PCR amplification resulted in 1200 bp of the pfcsp gene. Only 21 PCR products were successfully sequenced while 29 were presenting multiple clonal P. falciparum parasite were not sequenced. The analysis of the N-terminal region of the PfCSP amino acids sequence compared to the reference strains showed five different haplotypes. H1 consisted of 3D7, NF54, HB3 and 13 isolates of the Sudanese pfcsp. H2 comprised of 7G8, Dd2, MAD20, RO33, Wellcome strain, and 5 isolates of the Sudanese pfcsp. H3, H4, and H5 were found in 3 distinct isolates. Hd was 0.594 ± 0.065, and S was 12. The most common polymorphic site was A98G; other sites were D82Y, N83H, N83M, K85L, L86F, R87L, R87F, and A98S. Fu and Li’s D* test value was − 2.70818, Fu and Li’s F* test value was − 2.83907, indicating a role of negative balancing selection in the pfcsp N-terminal region. Analysis with the global pfcsp N-terminal regions showed the presence of 13 haplotypes. Haplotypes frequencies were 79.4%, 17.0%, 1.6% and 1.0% for H1, H2, H3 and H4, respectively. Remaining haplotypes frequency was 0.1% for each. Hd was 0.340 ± 0.017 with a Pi of 0.00485, S was 18 sites, and Pi was 0.00030. Amino acid polymorphisms identified in the N-terminal region of global pfcsp were present at eight positions (D82Y, N83H/M, K85L/T/N, L86F, R87L/F, A98G/V/S, D99G, and G100D). Conclusions Sudanese pfcsp N-terminal region was well-conserved with only a few polymorphic sites. Geographical distribution of genetic diversity showed high similarity to the African isolates, and this will help and contribute in the deployment of RTS,S, a PfCSP-based vaccine, in Sudan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouh S Mohamed
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nile College, Khartoum, Sudan. .,Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sinnar University, Sinnar, Sudan. .,Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Musab M Ali Albsheer
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sinnar University, Sinnar, Sudan.,Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, East Nile College, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hanadi Abdelbagi
- Biotechnology Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - Emanuel E Siddig
- Unit of Applied Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.,Mycetoma Research Center, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mona A Mohamed
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nile College, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Abdallah E Ahmed
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nile College, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Rihab Ali Omer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.,Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mohamed S Muneer
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ayman Ahmed
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.,World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Hussam A Osman
- Biotechnology Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - Mohamed S Ali
- Faculty of Medicine, Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ibrahim M Eisa
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Alzaiem Alazhari University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohamed M Elbasheir
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Alzaiem Alazhari University, Khartoum, Sudan
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18
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Kojin BB, Adelman ZN. The Sporozoite's Journey Through the Mosquito: A Critical Examination of Host and Parasite Factors Required for Salivary Gland Invasion. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
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19
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Abstract
Many invertebrates are either parasites themselves or vectors involved in parasite transmission; thereby, the interactions of parasites with final or intermediate hosts are often mediated by glycans. Therefore, it is of interest to compare the glycan structures or motifs present across invertebrate species. While a typical vertebrate modification such as sialic acid is rare in lower animals, antennal and core modifications of N-glycans are highly varied and range from core fucose, galactosylated fucose, fucosylated galactose, methyl groups, glucuronic acid and sulphate through to addition of zwitterionic moieties (phosphorylcholine, phosphoethanolamine and aminoethylphosphonate). Only in some cases are the enzymatic bases and the biological function of these modifications known. We are indeed still in the phase of discovering invertebrate glycomes primarily using mass spectrometry, but molecular biology and microarraying techniques are complementary to the determination of novel glycan structures and their functions.
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20
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A probabilistic model of pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine combination in mice. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0209028. [PMID: 30625136 PMCID: PMC6326473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains one the world’s most deadly infectious diseases, with almost half a million deaths and over 150 million clinical cases each year. An effective vaccine would contribute enormously to malaria control and will almost certainly be required for eventual eradication of the disease. However, the leading malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S, shows only 30–50% efficacy under field conditions, making it less cost-effective than long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets. Other subunit malaria vaccine candidates, including TRAP-based vaccines, show no better protective efficacy. This has led to increased interest in combining subunit malaria vaccines as a means of enhancing protective efficacy. Mathematical models of the effect of combining such vaccines on protective efficacy can help inform optimal vaccine strategies and decision-making at all stages of the clinical process. So far, however, no such model has been developed for pre-clinical murine studies, the stage at which all candidate antigens and combinations begin evaluation. To address this gap, this paper develops a mathematical model of vaccine combination adapted to murine malaria studies. The model is based on simple probabilistic assumptions which put the model on a firmer theoretical footing than previous clinical models, which rather than deriving a relationship between immune responses and protective efficacy posit the relationship to be either exponential or Hill curves. Data from pre-clinical murine malaria studies are used to derive values for unknowns in the model which in turn allows simulations of vaccine combination efficacy and suggests optimal strategies to pursue. Finally, the ability of the model to shed light on fundamental biological variables of murine malaria such as the blood stage growth rate and sporozoite infectivity is explored.
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21
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Dundas K, Shears MJ, Sinnis P, Wright GJ. Important Extracellular Interactions between Plasmodium Sporozoites and Host Cells Required for Infection. Trends Parasitol 2018; 35:129-139. [PMID: 30583849 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease, caused by Plasmodium parasites, that remains a major global health problem. Infection begins when salivary gland sporozoites are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Once within the host, sporozoites navigate through the dermis, into the bloodstream, and eventually invade hepatocytes. While we have an increasingly sophisticated cellular description of this journey, our molecular understanding of the extracellular interactions between the sporozoite and mammalian host that regulate migration and invasion remain comparatively poor. Here, we review the current state of our understanding, highlight the technical limitations that have frustrated progress, and outline how new approaches will help to address this knowledge gap with the ultimate aim of improving malaria treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Dundas
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory and Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Melanie J Shears
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Gavin J Wright
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory and Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK.
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22
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Lê HG, Kang JM, Moe M, Jun H, Thái TL, Lee J, Myint MK, Lin K, Sohn WM, Shin HJ, Kim TS, Na BK. Genetic polymorphism and natural selection of circumsporozoite surface protein in Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from Myanmar. Malar J 2018; 17:361. [PMID: 30314440 PMCID: PMC6186114 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2513-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) is one of the most extensively studied malaria vaccine candidates, but the genetic polymorphism of PfCSP within and among the global P. falciparum population raises concerns regarding the efficacy of a PfCSP-based vaccine efficacy. In this study, genetic diversity and natural selection of PfCSP in Myanmar as well as global P. falciparum were comprehensively analysed. METHODS Blood samples were collected from 51 P. falciparum infected Myanmar patients. Fifty-one full-length PfCSP genes were amplified from the blood samples through a nested polymerase chain reaction, cloned into a TA cloning vector, and then sequenced. Polymorphic characteristics and natural selection of Myanmar PfCSP were analysed using the DNASTAR, MEGA6, and DnaSP programs. Polymorphic diversity and natural selection in publicly available global PfCSP were also analysed. RESULTS The N-terminal and C-terminal non-repeat regions of Myanmar PfCSP showed limited genetic variations. A comparative analysis of the two regions in global PfCSP displayed similar patterns of low genetic diversity in global population, but substantial geographic differentiation was also observed. The most notable polymorphisms identified in the N-terminal region of global PfCSP were A98G and 19-amino acid length insertion in global population with different frequencies. Major polymorphic characters in the C-terminal region of Myanmar and global PfCSP were found in the Th2R and Th3R regions, where natural selection and recombination occurred. The central repeat region of Myanmar PfCSP was highly polymorphic, with differing numbers of repetitive repeat sequences NANP and NVDP. The numbers of the NANP repeats varied among global PfCSP, with the highest number of repeats seen in Asian and Oceanian PfCSP. Haplotype network analysis of global PfCSP revealed that global PfCSP clustered into 103 different haplotypes with geographically-separated populations. CONCLUSION Myanmar and global PfCSP displayed genetic diversity. N-terminal and C-terminal non-repeat regions were relatively conserved, but the central repeat region displayed high levels of genetic polymorphism in Myanmar and global PfCSP. The observed geographic pattern of genetic differentiation and the points of evidence for natural selection and recombination suggest that the functional consequences of the polymorphism should be considered for developing a vaccine based on PfCSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hương Giang Lê
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea.,BK21Plus Team for Anti-aging Biotechnology and Industry, Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Mi Kang
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea.,BK21Plus Team for Anti-aging Biotechnology and Industry, Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea
| | - Mya Moe
- Department of Medical Research Pyin Oo Lwin Branch, Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar
| | - Hojong Jun
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Thị Lam Thái
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea.,BK21Plus Team for Anti-aging Biotechnology and Industry, Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Moe Kyaw Myint
- Department of Medical Research Pyin Oo Lwin Branch, Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar
| | - Khin Lin
- Department of Medical Research Pyin Oo Lwin Branch, Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar
| | - Woon-Mok Sohn
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Joon Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University College of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung-Kuk Na
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea. .,BK21Plus Team for Anti-aging Biotechnology and Industry, Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52727, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Thakkar M, S B. Combating malaria with nanotechnology-based targeted and combinatorial drug delivery strategies. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2017; 6:414-25. [PMID: 27067712 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-016-0290-2] [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] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite the advancement of science, infectious diseases such as malaria remain an ongoing challenge globally. The main reason this disease still remains a menace in many countries around the world is the development of resistance to many of the currently available anti-malarial drugs. While developing new drugs is rather expensive and the prospect of a potent vaccine is still evading our dream of a malaria-free world, one of the feasible options is to package the older drugs in newer ways. For this, nano-sized drug delivery vehicles have been used and are proving to be promising prospects in the way malaria will be treated in the future. Since, monotherapy has given way to combination therapy in malaria treatment, nanotechnology-based delivery carriers enable to encapsulate various drug moieties in the same package, thus avoiding the complications involved in conjugation chemistry to produce hybrid drug molecules. Further, we envisage that using targeted delivery approaches, we may be able to achieve a much better radical cure and curb the side effects associated with the existing drug molecules. Thus, this review will focus on some of the nanotechnology-based combination and targeted therapies and will discuss the possibilities of better therapies that may be developed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloni Thakkar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sunandan Divatia School of Science, NMIMS (Deemed-to-be) University, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai, 400056, India
| | - Brijesh S
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sunandan Divatia School of Science, NMIMS (Deemed-to-be) University, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai, 400056, India.
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24
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Biological, immunological and functional properties of two novel multi-variant chimeric recombinant proteins of CSP antigens for vaccine development against Plasmodium vivax infection. Mol Immunol 2017; 90:158-171. [PMID: 28800475 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax is a major pre-erythrocyte vaccine candidate. The protein has a central repeat region that belongs to one of repeat families (VK210, VK247, and the P. vivax-like). In the present study, computer modelling was employed to select chimeric proteins, comprising the conserved regions and different arrangements of the repeat elements (VK210 and VK247), whose structure is similar to that of the native counterparts. DNA encoding the selected chimeras (named CS127 and CS712) were synthetically constructed based on E. coli codons, then cloned and expressed. Mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; anti-Pv-210-CDC and -Pv-247-CDC), recognized the chimeric antigens in ELISA, indicating correct conformation and accessibility of the B-cell epitopes. ELISA using IgG from plasma samples collected from 221 Iranian patients with acute P. vivax showed that only 49.32% of the samples reacted to both CS127 and CS712 proteins. The dominant subclass for the two chimeras was IgG1 (48% of the positive responders, OD492=0.777±0.420 for CS127; 48.41% of the positive responders, OD492=0.862±0.423 for CS712, with no statistically significant difference P>0.05; Wilcoxon signed ranks test). Binding assays showed that both chimeric proteins bound to immobilized heparan sulphate and HepG2 hepatocyte cells in a concentration-dependent manner, saturable at 80μg/mL. Additionally, anti-CS127 and -CS712 antibodies raised in mice recognized the native protein on the surface of P. vivax sporozoite with high intensity, confirming the presence of common epitopes between the recombinant forms and the native proteins. In summary, despite structural differences at the molecular level, the expression levels of both chimeras were satisfactory, and their conformational structure retained biological function, thus supporting their potential for use in the development of vivax-based vaccine.
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25
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Abstract
Heparin and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans are long, linear polysaccharides that are made up of alternating dissacharide sequences of sulfated uronic acid and amino sugars. Unlike heparin, which is only found in mast cells, heparan sulfate is ubiquitously expressed on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix of all animal cells. These negatively-charged glycans play essential roles in important cellular functions such as cell growth, adhesion, angiogenesis, and blood coagulation. These biomolecules are also involved in pathophysiological conditions such as pathogen infection and human disease. This review discusses past and current methods for targeting these complex biomolecules as a novel therapeutic strategy to treating disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Weiss
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0358, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Esko
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0358, USA
| | - Yitzhak Tor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0358, USA.
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26
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A Prime/Boost PfCS14K M/MVA-sPfCS M Vaccination Protocol Generates Robust CD8 + T Cell and Antibody Responses to Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein and Protects Mice against Malaria. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:CVI.00494-16. [PMID: 28298290 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00494-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines against the preerythrocytic stages of malaria are appealing because the parasite can be eliminated before disease onset and because they offer the unique possibility of targeting the parasite with both antibodies and T cells. Although the role of CD8+ T cells in preerythrocytic malaria stages is well documented, a highly effective T cell-inducing vaccine remains to be advanced. Here we report the development of a prime-boost immunization regimen with the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCS) fused to the oligomer-forming vaccinia virus A27 protein and a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector expressing PfCS. This protocol induced polyfunctional CD8+ T cells with an effector memory phenotype and high PfCS antibody levels. These immune responses correlated with inhibition of liver-stage parasitemia in 80% and sterile protection in 40% of mice challenged with a transgenic P. berghei parasite line that expressed PfCS. Our findings underscore the potential of T and B cell immunization strategies for improving protective effectiveness against malaria.
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27
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Zhao J, Bhanot P, Hu J, Wang Q. A Comprehensive Analysis of Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Protein Binding to Hepatocytes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161607. [PMID: 27560376 PMCID: PMC4999272 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the dominant protein on the surface of Plasmodium sporozoites and plays a critical role in the invasion by sporozoites of hepatocytes. Contacts between CSP and heparin sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) lead to the attachment of sporozoites to hepatocytes and trigger signaling events in the parasite that promote invasion of hepatocytes. The precise sequence elements in CSP that bind HSPGs have not been identified. We performed a systematic in vitro analysis to dissect the association between Plasmodium falciparum CSP (PfCSP) and hepatocytes. We demonstrate that interactions between PfCSP and heparin or a cultured hepatoma cell line, HepG2, are mediated primarily by a lysine-rich site in the amino terminus of PfCSP. Importantly, the carboxyl terminus of PfCSP facilitates heparin-binding by the amino-terminus but does not interact directly with heparin. These findings provide insights into how CSP recognizes hepatocytes and useful information for further functional studies of CSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Zhao
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Purnima Bhanot
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, 07103, United States of America
| | - Junjie Hu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tianjin, 300071, China
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Tianjin, 300070, China
- * E-mail:
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28
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Swearingen KE, Lindner SE, Shi L, Shears MJ, Harupa A, Hopp CS, Vaughan AM, Springer TA, Moritz RL, Kappe SHI, Sinnis P. Interrogating the Plasmodium Sporozoite Surface: Identification of Surface-Exposed Proteins and Demonstration of Glycosylation on CSP and TRAP by Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005606. [PMID: 27128092 PMCID: PMC4851412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasite infection is initiated by the mosquito-transmitted sporozoite stage, a highly motile invasive cell that targets hepatocytes in the liver for infection. A promising approach to developing a malaria vaccine is the use of proteins located on the sporozoite surface as antigens to elicit humoral immune responses that prevent the establishment of infection. Very little of the P. falciparum genome has been considered as potential vaccine targets, and candidate vaccines have been almost exclusively based on single antigens, generating the need for novel target identification. The most advanced malaria vaccine to date, RTS,S, a subunit vaccine consisting of a portion of the major surface protein circumsporozoite protein (CSP), conferred limited protection in Phase III trials, falling short of community-established vaccine efficacy goals. In striking contrast to the limited protection seen in current vaccine trials, sterilizing immunity can be achieved by immunization with radiation-attenuated sporozoites, suggesting that more potent protection may be achievable with a multivalent protein vaccine. Here, we provide the most comprehensive analysis to date of proteins located on the surface of or secreted by Plasmodium falciparum salivary gland sporozoites. We used chemical labeling to isolate surface-exposed proteins on sporozoites and identified these proteins by mass spectrometry. We validated several of these targets and also provide evidence that components of the inner membrane complex are in fact surface-exposed and accessible to antibodies in live sporozoites. Finally, our mass spectrometry data provide the first direct evidence that the Plasmodium surface proteins CSP and TRAP are glycosylated in sporozoites, a finding that could impact the selection of vaccine antigens. Malaria remains one of the most important infectious diseases in the world, responsible for an estimated 500 million new cases and 600,000 deaths annually. The etiologic agents of the disease are protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium that have a complex cycle between mosquito and mammalian hosts. Though all clinical symptoms are attributable to the blood stages, it is only by attacking the transmission stages that we can make an impact on the economic and health burdens of malaria. Infection is initiated when mosquitoes inoculate sporozoites into the skin as they probe for blood. Sporozoites must locate blood vessels and enter the circulation to reach the liver where they invade and grow in hepatocytes. The inoculum is low and these early stages of infection are asymptomatic. Though the small amounts of material available for study has made large scale -omics studies difficult, killing the parasite at this stage would prevent infection and block downstream transmission to mosquitoes, thus preventing spread of disease. Here we use state-of-the-art biochemistry tools to identify the proteins on the sporozoite surface and find that two of the most studied proteins, CSP and TRAP, have post-translational modifications. These studies will aid investigations into the novel biology of sporozoites and importantly, significantly expand the pool of potential vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott E. Lindner
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Lirong Shi
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Melanie J. Shears
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anke Harupa
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Christine S. Hopp
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ashley M. Vaughan
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Robert L. Moritz
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RLM); (SHIK); (PS)
| | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RLM); (SHIK); (PS)
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RLM); (SHIK); (PS)
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Moreira CK, Naissant B, Coppi A, Bennett BL, Aime E, Franke-Fayard B, Janse CJ, Coppens I, Sinnis P, Templeton TJ. The Plasmodium PHIST and RESA-Like Protein Families of Human and Rodent Malaria Parasites. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152510. [PMID: 27022937 PMCID: PMC4811531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The phist gene family has members identified across the Plasmodium genus, defined by the presence of a domain of roughly 150 amino acids having conserved aromatic residues and an all alpha-helical structure. The family is highly amplified in P. falciparum, with 65 predicted genes in the genome of the 3D7 isolate. In contrast, in the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei 3 genes are identified, one of which is an apparent pseudogene. Transcripts of the P. berghei phist genes are predominant in schizonts, whereas in P. falciparum transcript profiles span different asexual blood stages and gametocytes. We pursued targeted disruption of P. berghei phist genes in order to characterize a simplistic model for the expanded phist gene repertoire in P. falciparum. Unsuccessful attempts to disrupt P. berghei PBANKA_114540 suggest that this phist gene is essential, while knockout of phist PBANKA_122900 shows an apparent normal progression and non-essential function throughout the life cycle. Epitope-tagging of P. falciparum and P. berghei phist genes confirmed protein export to the erythrocyte cytoplasm and localization with a punctate pattern. Three P. berghei PEXEL/HT-positive exported proteins exhibit at least partial co-localization, in support of a common vesicular compartment in the cytoplasm of erythrocytes infected with rodent malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina K. Moreira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, United States of America
| | - Bernina Naissant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, United States of America
| | - Alida Coppi
- Department of Medical Parasitology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10010, United States of America
| | - Brandy L. Bennett
- Department of Medical Parasitology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10010, United States of America
| | - Elena Aime
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Medical Parasitology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10010, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Templeton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, United States of America
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Kurz S, King JG, Dinglasan RR, Paschinger K, Wilson IBH. The fucomic potential of mosquitoes: Fucosylated N-glycan epitopes and their cognate fucosyltransferases. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 68:52-63. [PMID: 26617287 PMCID: PMC4707139 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Fucoconjugates are key mediators of protein-glycan interactions in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. As examples, N-glycans modified with the non-mammalian core α1,3-linked fucose have been detected in various organisms ranging from plants to insects and are immunogenic in mammals. The rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against plant horseradish peroxidase (anti-HRP) is able to recognize the α1,3-linked fucose epitope and is also known to specifically stain neural tissues in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, we have detected and localized the anti-HRP cross-reactivity in another insect species, the malaria mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae. We were able to identify and structurally elucidate fucosylated N-glycans including core mono- and difucosylated structures (responsible for anti-HRP cross reactivity) as well as a Lewis-type antennal modification on mosquito anionic N-glycans by applying enzymatic and chemical treatments. The three mosquito fucosyltransferase open reading frames (FucT6, FucTA and FucTC) required for the in vivo biosynthesis of the fucosylated N-glycan epitopes were identified in the Anopheles gambiae genome, cloned and recombinantly expressed in Pichia pastoris. Using a robust MALDI-TOF MS approach, we characterised the activity of the three recombinant fucosyltransferases in vitro and demonstrate that they share similar enzymatic properties as compared to their homologues from D. melanogaster and Apis mellifera. Thus, not only do we confirm the neural reactivity of anti-HRP in a mosquito species, but also demonstrate enzymatic activity for all its α1,3- and α1,6-fucosyltransferase homologues, whose specificity matches the results of glycomic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Kurz
- Department für Chemie, Universität für Bodenkultur, 1190 Wien, Austria
| | - Jonas G King
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health & The Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Rhoel R Dinglasan
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health & The Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Iain B H Wilson
- Department für Chemie, Universität für Bodenkultur, 1190 Wien, Austria.
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Cha SJ, Park K, Srinivasan P, Schindler CW, van Rooijen N, Stins M, Jacobs-Lorena M. CD68 acts as a major gateway for malaria sporozoite liver infection. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [PMID: 26216124 PMCID: PMC4548058 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20110575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Cha et al. use a phage display library screen to identify a peptide, P39, that binds to CD68 on the surface of Kupffer cells to inhibit malaria sporozoite cell entry. Thus, P39 may represent a therapeutic strategy for malaria by limiting hepatic infection. After being delivered by the bite from an infected mosquito, Plasmodium sporozoites enter the blood circulation and infect the liver. Previous evidence suggests that Kupffer cells, a macrophage-like component of the liver blood vessel lining, are traversed by sporozoites to initiate liver invasion. However, the molecular determinants of sporozoite–Kupffer cell interactions are unknown. Understanding the molecular basis for this specific recognition may lead to novel therapeutic strategies to control malaria. Using a phage display library screen, we identified a peptide, P39, that strongly binds to the Kupffer cell surface and, importantly, inhibits sporozoite Kupffer cell entry. Furthermore, we determined that P39 binds to CD68, a putative receptor for sporozoite invasion of Kupffer cells that acts as a gateway for malaria infection of the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Jae Cha
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205 W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Kiwon Park
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205 W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Prakash Srinivasan
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Christian W Schindler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Nico van Rooijen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, VUmc, 1081 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Monique Stins
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205 W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
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Reversible Conformational Change in the Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein Masks Its Adhesion Domains. Infect Immun 2015; 83:3771-80. [PMID: 26169272 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02676-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The extended rod-like Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is comprised of three primary domains: a charged N terminus that binds heparan sulfate proteoglycans, a central NANP repeat domain, and a C terminus containing a thrombospondin-like type I repeat (TSR) domain. Only the last two domains are incorporated in RTS,S, the leading malaria vaccine in phase 3 trials that, to date, protects about 50% of vaccinated children against clinical disease. A seroepidemiological study indicated that the N-terminal domain might improve the efficacy of a new CSP vaccine. Using a panel of CSP-specific monoclonal antibodies, well-characterized recombinant CSPs, label-free quantitative proteomics, and in vitro inhibition of sporozoite invasion, we show that native CSP is N-terminally processed in the mosquito host and undergoes a reversible conformational change to mask some epitopes in the N- and C-terminal domains until the sporozoite interacts with the liver hepatocyte. Our findings show the importance of understanding processing and the biophysical change in conformation, possibly due to a mechanical or molecular signal, and may aid in the development of a new CSP vaccine.
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Induction of Multifunctional Broadly Reactive T Cell Responses by a Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Recombinant Chimera. Infect Immun 2015; 83:3749-61. [PMID: 26169267 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00480-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread species of Plasmodium, causing up to 50% of the malaria cases occurring outside sub-Saharan Africa. An effective vaccine is essential for successful control and potential eradication. A well-characterized vaccine candidate is the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Preclinical and clinical trials have shown that both antibodies and cellular immune responses have been correlated with protection induced by immunization with CSP. On the basis of our reported approach of developing chimeric Plasmodium yoelii proteins to enhance protective efficacy, we designed PvRMC-CSP, a recombinant chimeric protein based on the P. vivax CSP (PvCSP). In this engineered protein, regions of the PvCSP predicted to contain human T cell epitopes were genetically fused to an immunodominant B cell epitope derived from the N-terminal region I and to repeat sequences representing the two types of PvCSP repeats. The chimeric protein was expressed in soluble form with high yield. As the immune response to PvCSP has been reported to be genetically restricted in the murine model, we tested the immunogenicity of PvRMC-CSP in groups of six inbred strains of mice. PvRMC-CSP was able to induce robust antibody responses in all the mouse strains tested. Synthetic peptides representing the allelic forms of the P. vivax CSP were also recognized to a similar extent regardless of the mouse strain. Furthermore, the immunization regimen induced high frequencies of multifunctional CD4(+) and CD8(+) PvRMC-CSP-specific T cells. The depth and breadth of the immune responses elicited suggest that immunization with PvRMC-CSP can circumvent the genetic restriction of the immune response to P. vivax CSP. Interestingly, PvRMC-CSP was also recognized by naturally acquired antibodies from individuals living in areas where malaria is endemic. These features make PvRMC-CSP a promising vaccine candidate for further development.
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Dumoulin PC, Trop SA, Ma J, Zhang H, Sherman MA, Levitskaya J. Flow Cytometry Based Detection and Isolation of Plasmodium falciparum Liver Stages In Vitro. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129623. [PMID: 26070149 PMCID: PMC4466555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, the disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, remains a major global health burden. The liver stage of Plasmodium falciparum infection is a leading target for immunological and pharmacological interventions. Therefore, novel approaches providing specific detection and isolation of live P. falciparum exoerythrocytic forms (EEFs) are warranted. Utilizing a recently generated parasite strain expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) we established a method which, allows for detection and isolation of developing live P. falciparum liver stages by flow cytometry. Using this technique we compared the susceptibility of five immortalized human hepatocyte cell lines and primary hepatocyte cultures from three donors to infection by P. falciparum sporozoites. Here, we show that EEFs can be detected and isolated from in vitro infected cultures of the HC-04 cell line and primary human hepatocytes. We confirmed the presence of developing parasites in sorted live human hepatocytes and characterized their morphology by fluorescence microscopy. Finally, we validated the practical applications of our approach by re-examining the importance of host ligand CD81 for hepatocyte infection by P. falciparum sporozoites in vitro and assessment of the inhibitory activity of anti-sporozoite antibodies. This methodology provides us with the tools to study both, the basic biology of the P. falciparum liver stage and the effects of host-derived factors on the development of P. falciparum EEFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C. Dumoulin
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Stefanie A. Trop
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Jinxia Ma
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Hao Zhang
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Matthew A. Sherman
- Triangle Research Labs, 6 Davis Drive, Durham, NC, 27709, United States of America
| | - Jelena Levitskaya
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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35
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Kurz S, Aoki K, Jin C, Karlsson NG, Tiemeyer M, Wilson IBH, Paschinger K. Targeted release and fractionation reveal glucuronylated and sulphated N- and O-glycans in larvae of dipteran insects. J Proteomics 2015; 126:172-88. [PMID: 26047717 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are important vectors of parasitic and viral diseases with Anopheles gambiae transmitting malaria and Aedes aegypti spreading yellow and Dengue fevers. Using two different approaches (solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase or hydrophilic interaction HPLC fractionation followed by MALDI-TOF MS or permethylation followed by NSI-MS), we examined the N-glycans of both A. gambiae and A. aegypti larvae and demonstrate the presence of a range of paucimannosidic glycans as well as bi- and tri-antennary glycans, some of which are modified with fucose or with sulphate or glucuronic acid residues; the latter anionic modifications were also found on N-glycans of larvae from another dipteran species (Drosophila melanogaster). The sulphate groups are attached primarily to core α-mannose residues (especially the α1,6-linked mannose), whereas the glucuronic acid residues are linked to non-reducing β1,3-galactose. Also, O-glycans were found to possess glucuronic acid and sulphate as well as phosphoethanolamine modifications. The presence of sulphated and glucuronylated N-glycans is a novel feature in dipteran glycomes; these structures have the potential to act as additional anionic glycan ligands involved in parasite interactions with the vector host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Kurz
- Department für Chemie, Universität für Bodenkultur, 1190 Wien, Austria
| | - Kazuhiro Aoki
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Centre, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Chunsheng Jin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Niclas G Karlsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Michael Tiemeyer
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Centre, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Iain B H Wilson
- Department für Chemie, Universität für Bodenkultur, 1190 Wien, Austria.
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Antigenicity and immunogenicity of a novel Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite derived synthetic vaccine construct. Vaccine 2014; 32:3179-86. [PMID: 24731811 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Revised: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The circumsporozoite (CS) protein is a major malaria sporozoite surface antigen currently being considered as vaccine candidate. Plasmodium vivax CS (PvCS) protein comprises a dimorphic central repeat fragment flanked by conserved regions that contain functional domains involved in parasite invasion of host cells. The protein amino (N-terminal) flank has a cleavage region (region I), essential for proteolytic processing prior to parasite invasion of liver cells. METHODS We have developed a 131-mer long synthetic polypeptide (LSP) named PvNR1R2 that includes the N-terminal flank and the two natural repeat variant regions known as VK210 and VK247. We studied the natural immune response to this region in human sera from different malaria-endemic areas and its immunogenicity in mice. RESULTS PvNR1R2 was more frequently recognized by sera from Papua New Guinea (PNG) (83%) than by samples from Colombia (24%) when tested by ELISA. The polypeptide formulated in Montanide ISA51 adjuvant elicited strong antibody responses in both C3H and CB6F1 mice strains. Antibodies from immunized mice as well as affinity-purified human IgG reacted with native protein by IFA test. Moreover, mouse immune sera induced strong (90%) in vitro inhibition of sporozoite invasion (ISI) of hepatoma cell lines. CONCLUSIONS These results encourage further studies in non-human primates to confirm the elicitation of sporozoite invasion blocking antibodies, to assess cell mediated immune responses and the protective efficacy of this polypeptide.
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37
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Ouédraogo A, Tiono AB, Kargougou D, Yaro JB, Ouédraogo E, Kaboré Y, Kangoye D, Bougouma EC, Gansane A, Henri N, Diarra A, Sanon S, Soulama I, Konate AT, Watson NL, Brown V, Hendriks J, Pau MG, Versteege I, Wiesken E, Sadoff J, Nebie I, Sirima SB. A phase 1b randomized, controlled, double-blinded dosage-escalation trial to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of an adenovirus type 35 based circumsporozoite malaria vaccine in Burkinabe healthy adults 18 to 45 years of age. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78679. [PMID: 24244339 PMCID: PMC3823848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ad35.CS.01 is a pre-erythrocytic malaria candidate vaccine. It is a codon optimized nucleotide sequence representing the P. falciparum circumsporozoite (CS) surface antigen inserted in a replication deficient Adenovirus 35 backbone. A Phase 1a trial has been conducted in the USA in naïve adults and showed that the vaccine was safe. The aim of this study is to assess the safety and immunogenicity of ascending dosages in sub Saharan Africa. Methods A double blind, randomized, controlled, dose escalation, phase Ib trial was conducted in a rural area of Balonghin, the Saponé health district (Burkina Faso). Forty-eight healthy adults aged 18-45 years were randomized into 4 cohorts of 12 to receive three vaccine doses (day 0, 28 and 84) of 109, 1010, 5X1010, 1011 vp of Ad35.CS.01 or normal saline by intra muscular injection. Subjects were monitored carefully during the 14 days following each vaccination for non serious adverse events. Severe and serious adverse events were collected throughout the participant study duration (12 months from the first vaccination). Humoral and cellular immune responses were measured on study days 0, 28, 56, 84, 112 and 140. Results Of the forty-eight subjects enrolled, forty-four (91.7%) received all three scheduled vaccine doses. Local reactions, all of mild severity, occurred in thirteen (27.1%) subjects. Severe (grade 3) laboratory abnormalities occurred in five (10.4%) subjects. One serious adverse event was reported and attributed to infection judged unrelated to vaccine. The vaccine induced both antibody titers and CD8 T cells producing IFNγ and TNFα with specificity to CS while eliciting modest neutralizing antibody responses against Ad35. Conclusion Study vaccine Ad35.CS.01 at four different dose levels was well-tolerated and modestly immunogenic in this population. These results suggest that Ad35.CS.01 should be further investigated for preliminary efficacy in human challenge models and as part of heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategies. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01018459 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01018459
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Affiliation(s)
- Alphonse Ouédraogo
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Alfred B. Tiono
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Désiré Kargougou
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Jean Baptiste Yaro
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Esperance Ouédraogo
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Youssouf Kaboré
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - David Kangoye
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Edith C. Bougouma
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Adama Gansane
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Noelie Henri
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Amidou Diarra
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Souleymane Sanon
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Issiaka Soulama
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Amadou T. Konate
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Nora L. Watson
- The EMMES Corporation, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Valerie Brown
- The EMMES Corporation, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Issa Nebie
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Sodiomon B. Sirima
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Groupe d’action et de Recherche en Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- * E-mail:
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Lödige M, Lewis MD, Paulsen ES, Esch HL, Pradel G, Lehmann L, Brun R, Bringmann G, Mueller AK. A primaquine-chloroquine hybrid with dual activity against Plasmodium liver and blood stages. Int J Med Microbiol 2013; 303:539-47. [PMID: 23992634 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2013.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2013] [Revised: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a new class of hybrid molecules consisting of the established antiplasmodial drugs primaquine and chloroquine. No drug is known to date that acts comparably against all stages of Plasmodium in its life cycle. Starting from available precursors, we designed and synthesized a new-generation compound consisting of both primaquine and chloroquine components, with the intent to produce agents that exhibit bioactivity against different stages of the parasite's life cycle. In vitro, the hybrid molecule 3 displays activity against both asexual and sexual P. falciparum blood stages as well as P. berghei sporozoites and liver stages. In vivo, the hybrid elicits activity against P. berghei liver and blood stages. Our results successfully validate the concept of utilizing one compound to combine different modes of action that attack different Plasmodium stages in the mammalian host. It is our hope that the novel design of such compounds will outwit the pathogen in the spread of drug resistance. Based on the optimized synthetic pathway, the compound is accessible in a smooth and versatile way and open for potential further molecular modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Lödige
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
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39
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Valle-Delgado JJ, Urbán P, Fernàndez-Busquets X. Demonstration of specific binding of heparin to Plasmodium falciparum-infected vs. non-infected red blood cells by single-molecule force spectroscopy. NANOSCALE 2013; 5:3673-3680. [PMID: 23306548 DOI: 10.1039/c2nr32821f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play an important role in the sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (pRBCs) in the microvascular endothelium of different tissues, as well as in the formation of small clusters (rosettes) between infected and non-infected red blood cells (RBCs). Both sequestration and rosetting have been recognized as characteristic events in severe malaria. Here we have used heparin and pRBCs infected by the 3D7 strain of P. falciparum as a model to study GAG-pRBC interactions. Fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence-assisted cell sorting assays have shown that exogenously added heparin has binding specificity for pRBCs (preferentially for those infected with late forms of the parasite) vs. RBCs. Heparin-pRBC adhesion has been probed by single-molecule force spectroscopy, obtaining an average binding force ranging between 28 and 46 pN depending on the loading rate. No significant binding of heparin to non-infected RBCs has been observed in control experiments. This work represents the first approach to quantitatively evaluate GAG-pRBC molecular interactions at the individual molecule level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan José Valle-Delgado
- Nanobioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona E08028, Spain
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Charan SS, Pawar KD, Severson DW, Patole MS, Shouche YS. Comparative analysis of midgut bacterial communities of Aedes aegypti mosquito strains varying in vector competence to dengue virus. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:2627-37. [PMID: 23636307 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3428-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Differences in midgut bacterial communities of Aedes aegypti, the primary mosquito vector of dengue viruses (DENV), might influence the susceptibility of these mosquitoes to infection by DENV. As a first step toward addressing this hypothesis, comparative analysis of bacterial communities from midguts of mosquito strains with differential genetic susceptibility to DENV was performed. 16S rRNA gene libraries and real-time PCR approaches were used to characterize midgut bacterial community composition and abundance in three Aedes aegypti strains: MOYO, MOYO-R, and MOYO-S. Although Pseudomonas spp.-related clones were predominant across all libraries, some interesting and potentially significant differences were found in midgut bacterial communities among the three strains. Pedobacter sp.- and Janthinobacterium sp.-related phylotypes were identified only in the MOYO-R strain libraries, while Bacillus sp. was detected only in the MOYO-S strain. Rahnella sp. was found in MOYO-R and MOYO strains libraries but was absent in MOYO-S libraries. Both 16S rRNA gene library and real-time PCR approaches confirmed the presence of Pedobacter sp. only in the MOYO-R strain. Further, real-time PCR-based quantification of 16S rRNA gene copies showed bacterial abundance in midguts of the MOYO-R strain mosquitoes to be at least 10-100-folds higher than in the MOYO-S and MOYO strain mosquitoes. Our study identified some putative bacteria with characteristic physiological properties that could affect the infectivity of dengue virus. This analysis represents the first report of comparisons of midgut bacterial communities with respect to refractoriness and susceptibility of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to DENV and will guide future efforts to address the potential interactive role of midgut bacteria of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in determining vectorial capacity for DENV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakti S Charan
- Molecular Biology Unit, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
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Schrader FC, Glinca S, Sattler JM, Dahse HM, Afanador GA, Prigge ST, Lanzer M, Mueller AK, Klebe G, Schlitzer M. Novel type II fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS II) inhibitors as multistage antimalarial agents. ChemMedChem 2013; 8:442-61. [PMID: 23341167 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201200407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a potentially fatal disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and poses a major medical risk in large parts of the world. The development of new, affordable antimalarial drugs is of vital importance as there are increasing reports of resistance to the currently available therapeutics. In addition, most of the current drugs used for chemoprophylaxis merely act on parasites already replicating in the blood. At this point, a patient might already be suffering from the symptoms associated with the disease and could additionally be infectious to an Anopheles mosquito. These insects act as a vector, subsequently spreading the disease to other humans. In order to cure not only malaria but prevent transmission as well, a drug must target both the blood- and pre-erythrocytic liver stages of the parasite. P. falciparum (Pf) enoyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase (ENR) is a key enzyme of plasmodial type II fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS II). It has been shown to be essential for liver-stage development of Plasmodium berghei and is therefore qualified as a target for true causal chemoprophylaxis. Using virtual screening based on two crystal structures of PfENR, we identified a structurally novel class of FAS inhibitors. Subsequent chemical optimization yielded two compounds that are effective against multiple stages of the malaria parasite. These two most promising derivatives were found to inhibit blood-stage parasite growth with IC(50) values of 1.7 and 3.0 μM and lead to a more prominent developmental attenuation of liver-stage parasites than the gold-standard drug, primaquine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian C Schrader
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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Ejigiri I, Ragheb DRT, Pino P, Coppi A, Bennett BL, Soldati-Favre D, Sinnis P. Shedding of TRAP by a rhomboid protease from the malaria sporozoite surface is essential for gliding motility and sporozoite infectivity. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002725. [PMID: 22911675 PMCID: PMC3406075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites, the infective stage of the malaria parasite, move by gliding motility, a unique form of locomotion required for tissue migration and host cell invasion. TRAP, a transmembrane protein with extracellular adhesive domains and a cytoplasmic tail linked to the actomyosin motor, is central to this process. Forward movement is achieved when TRAP, bound to matrix or host cell receptors, is translocated posteriorly. It has been hypothesized that these adhesive interactions must ultimately be disengaged for continuous forward movement to occur. TRAP has a canonical rhomboid-cleavage site within its transmembrane domain and mutations were introduced into this sequence to elucidate the function of TRAP cleavage and determine the nature of the responsible protease. Rhomboid cleavage site mutants were defective in TRAP shedding and displayed slow, staccato motility and reduced infectivity. Moreover, they had a more dramatic reduction in infectivity after intradermal inoculation compared to intravenous inoculation, suggesting that robust gliding is critical for dermal exit. The intermediate phenotype of the rhomboid cleavage site mutants suggested residual, albeit inefficient cleavage by another protease. We therefore generated a mutant in which both the rhomboid-cleavage site and the alternate cleavage site were altered. This mutant was non-motile and non-infectious, demonstrating that TRAP removal from the sporozoite surface functions to break adhesive connections between the parasite and extracellular matrix or host cell receptors, which in turn is essential for motility and invasion. Malaria infection begins with the bite of an infected mosquito which inoculates sporozoites into the skin. Sporozoites then go to the liver where they invade hepatocytes and replicate, ultimately leading to the blood stage of infection. Sporozoites are motile and actively invade hepatocytes using a unique form of motility called gliding motility. The mechanism by which the parasite moves forward is somewhat similar to a treadmill and the sporozoite protein TRAP, is key to this process. Its extracellular portion binds to host proteins while its intracellular portion binds to the parasite's motor. As the motor moves the protein rearwards, the sporozoite moves forward. It follows that the extracellular adhesive interactions of TRAP must ultimately be disengaged for forward movement to occur. We have generated mutant sporozoites that can only partially disengage these parasite-host adhesive interactions and find that these sporozoites have a halting, constipated movement. Following this, we generated a mutant that cannot disengage these interactions at all and these sporozoites are nonmotile and noninfectious. Lastly we found that a parasite rhomboid protease, ROM4, is on the surface of the sporozoite and thus may be responsible for TRAP cleavage and shedding from the sporozoite surface. Overall, our results demonstrate that robust gliding motility requires the disengagement of adhesive interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ijeoma Ejigiri
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Daniel R. T. Ragheb
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Paco Pino
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alida Coppi
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Brandy Lee Bennett
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Innate recognition of malarial parasites by mammalian hosts. Int J Parasitol 2012; 42:557-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Atkinson A, Garnier S, Afridi S, Fumoux F, Rihet P. Genetic variations in genes involved in heparan sulphate biosynthesis are associated with Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia: a familial study in Burkina Faso. Malar J 2012; 11:108. [PMID: 22475533 PMCID: PMC3364897 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is accumulating evidence that host heparan sulphate proteoglycans play an important role in the life cycle of Plasmodium through their heparan sulphate chains, suggesting that genetic variations in genes involved in heparan sulphate biosynthesis may influence parasitaemia. Interestingly, Hs3st3a1 and Hs3st3b1 encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of heparan sulphate are located within a chromosomal region linked to Plasmodium chabaudi parasitaemia in mice. This suggests that HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 may influence P. falciparum parasitaemia in humans. Methods Polymorphisms within HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 were identified in 270 individuals belonging to 44 pedigrees and living in Burkina Faso. Linkage and association between parasitaemia and the polymorphisms were assessed with MERLIN and FBAT. A genetic interaction analysis was also conducted based on the PGMDR approach. Results Linkage between P. falciparum parasitaemia and the chromosomal region containing HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 was detected on the basis of the 20 SNPs identified. In addition, rs28470223 located within the promoter of HS3ST3A1 was associated with P. falciparum parasitaemia, whereas the PGMDR analysis revealed a genetic interaction between HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1. Seventy-three significant multi-locus models were identified after correcting for multiple tests; 37 significant multi-locus models included rs28470223, whereas 38 multi-locus models contained at least one mis-sense mutation within HS3ST3B1. Conclusion Genetic variants of HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 are associated with P. falciparum parasitaemia. This suggests that those variants alter both the function of heparan sulphate proteoglycans and P. falciparum parasitaemia.
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Aldrich C, Magini A, Emiliani C, Dottorini T, Bistoni F, Crisanti A, Spaccapelo R. Roles of the amino terminal region and repeat region of the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein in parasite infectivity. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32524. [PMID: 22393411 PMCID: PMC3290588 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2011] [Accepted: 01/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) plays a key role in malaria sporozoite infection of both mosquito salivary glands and the vertebrate host. The conserved Regions I and II have been well studied but little is known about the immunogenic central repeat region and the N-terminal region of the protein. Rodent malaria Plasmodium berghei parasites, in which the endogenous CS gene has been replaced with the avian Plasmodium gallinaceum CS (PgCS) sequence, develop normally in the A. stephensi mosquito midgut but the sporozoites are not infectious. We therefore generated P. berghei transgenic parasites carrying the PgCS gene, in which the repeat region was replaced with the homologous region of P. berghei CS (PbCS). A further line, in which both the N-terminal region and repeat region were replaced with the homologous regions of PbCS, was also generated. Introduction of the PbCS repeat region alone, into the PgCS gene, did not rescue sporozoite species-specific infectivity. However, the introduction of both the PbCS repeat region and the N-terminal region into the PgCS gene completely rescued infectivity, in both the mosquito vector and the mammalian host. Immunofluorescence experiments and western blot analysis revealed correct localization and proteolytic processing of CSP in the chimeric parasites. The results demonstrate, in vivo, that the repeat region of P. berghei CSP, alone, is unable to mediate sporozoite infectivity in either the mosquito or the mammalian host, but suggest an important role for the N-terminal region in sporozoite host cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Aldrich
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Keble College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandro Magini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy
| | - Carla Emiliani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy
| | - Tania Dottorini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy
| | - Francesco Bistoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roberta Spaccapelo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy
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Quantification of sporozoite invasion, migration, and development by microscopy and flow cytometry. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 923:385-400. [PMID: 22990793 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-026-7_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
There is an important role for in vitro assays to better understand the initial steps of malaria infection. In this section, we describe both microscopy-based and flow cytometry-based sporozoite invasion, migration and development assays with the rodent malaria parasites, Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii, and the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
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Rodrigues T, Prudêncio M, Moreira R, Mota MM, Lopes F. Targeting the liver stage of malaria parasites: a yet unmet goal. J Med Chem 2011; 55:995-1012. [PMID: 22122518 DOI: 10.1021/jm201095h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Sciences (iMed.UL), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-019 Lisbon, Portugal
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Prudêncio M, Mota MM, Mendes AM. A toolbox to study liver stage malaria. Trends Parasitol 2011; 27:565-74. [PMID: 22015112 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2011.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The first obligatory phase of mammalian infection by Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria, occurs in the liver of the host. This stage of Plasmodium infection bears enormous potential for anti-malarial intervention. Recent technological progress has strongly contributed to overcoming some of the long-standing difficulties in experimentally assessing hepatic infection by Plasmodium. Here, we review appropriate infection models and infection assessment tools, and provide a comprehensive description of recent advances in experimental strategies to investigate the liver stage of malaria. These issues are discussed in the context of current challenges in the field to provide researchers with the technical tools that enable effective experimental approaches to study liver stage malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Prudêncio
- Unidade de Malária, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Armistead J, Wilson I, van Kuppevelt T, Dinglasan R. A role for heparan sulfate proteoglycans in Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite invasion of anopheline mosquito salivary glands. Biochem J 2011; 438:475-83. [PMID: 21663594 PMCID: PMC3173866 DOI: 10.1042/bj20110694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Revised: 06/02/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
HS (heparan sulfate) has been shown to be an important mediator of Plasmodium sporozoite homing and invasion of the liver, but the role of this glycosaminoglycan in mosquito vector host-sporozoite interactions is unknown. We have biochemically characterized the function of AgOXT1 (Anopheles gambiae peptide-O-xylosyltransferase 1) and confirmed that AgOXT1 can modify peptides representing model HS and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in vitro. Moreover, we also demonstrated that the mosquito salivary gland basal lamina proteoglycans are modified by HS. We used RNA interference-mediated knockdown of HS biosynthesis in A. gambiae salivary glands to determine whether Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites that are released from mosquito midgut oocysts use salivary gland HS as a receptor for tissue invasion. Our results suggest that salivary gland basal lamina HS glycosaminoglycans only partially mediate midgut sporozoite invasion of this tissue, and that in the absence of HS, the presence of other surface co-receptors is sufficient to facilitate parasite entry.
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Key Words
- anopheles
- cell invasion
- glycobiology
- glycos-aminoglycan (gag)
- heparan sulfate (hs)
- malaria
- agldh, anopheles gambiael-lactate dehydrogenase
- agoxt1, anopheles gambiae peptide-o-xylosyltransferase 1
- ampd, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol
- cs, chondroitin sulfate
- csp, circumsporozoite protein
- cspg, cs proteoglycan
- dapi, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole
- dsrna, double-stranded rna
- dsagoxt1, agoxt1 dsrna
- dsgfp, gfp dsrna
- gag, glycosaminoglycan
- gfp, green fluorescent protein
- glcns, n-sulfated n-acetylglucosamine
- hs, heparan sulfate
- hsgag, hs glycosaminoglycan
- hspg, hs proteoglycan
- idoa2s, l-iduronic acid 2-o-sulfate
- maldi–tof, matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization–time-of-flight
- ms/ms, tandem ms
- ragoxt1, recombinant agoxt1
- rnai, rna interference
- rp-hplc, reverse-phase hplc
- rt, reverse transcription
- scfv, single-chain variable fragment
- trap, thrombospondin-related adhesion protein
- tsr, thrombospondin type 1 repeat domain
- vsv, vesicular stomatitis virus
- xt-i, xylosyltransferase i
- xyl, xylose
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S. Armistead
- *W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A
| | - Iain B.H. Wilson
- †Department für Chemie, Universität für Bodenkultur, Muthgasse 18, A-1190, Wien, Austria
| | - Toin H. van Kuppevelt
- ‡Department of Biochemistry, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rhoel R. Dinglasan
- *W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A
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Vera IM, Beatty WL, Sinnis P, Kim K. Plasmodium protease ROM1 is important for proper formation of the parasitophorous vacuole. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002197. [PMID: 21909259 PMCID: PMC3164628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are obligate intracellular parasites that invade host cells by an active process leading to the formation of a non-fusogenic parasitophorous vacuole (PV) where the parasite replicates within the host cell. The rhomboid family of proteases cleaves substrates within their transmembrane domains and has been implicated in the invasion process. Although its exact function is unknown, Plasmodium ROM1 is hypothesized to play a role during invasion based on its microneme localization and its ability to cleave essential invasion adhesins. Using the rodent malaria model, Plasmodium yoelii, we carried out detailed quantitative analysis of pyrom1 deficient parasites during the Plasmodium lifecycle. Pyrom1(-) parasites are attenuated during erythrocytic and hepatic stages but progress normally through the mosquito vector with normal counts of oocyst and salivary gland sporozoites. Pyrom1 steady state mRNA levels are upregulated 20-fold in salivary gland sporozoites compared to blood stages. We show that pyrom1(-) sporozoites are capable of gliding motility and traversing host cells normally. Wildtype and pyrom1(-) sporozoites do not differ in the rate of entry into Hepa1–6 hepatocytes. Within the first twelve hours of hepatic development, however, only 50% pyrom1(-) parasites have developed into exoerythrocytic forms. Immunofluorescence microscopy using the PVM marker UIS4 and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the PV of a significant fraction of pyrom1(-) parasites are morphologically aberrant shortly after invasion. We propose a novel function for PyROM1 as a protease that promotes proper PV modification to allow parasite development and replication in a suitable environment within the mammalian host. Plasmodium parasites are obligate intracellular organisms that invade cells by an active mechanism mediated by the secretion of contents from specialized secretory organelles, the micronemes and rhoptries. Invaded parasites reside and replicate within a membrane-bound compartment called the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). PV formation is exclusive to development within mammalian specific host cells, the erythrocytes and hepatocytes. Proper modification of the PV is important to protect the parasite from host defenses and to serve as a gateway for nutrient acquisition and communication with the environment. The rhomboid proteins, a class of intramembrane serine proteases, are implicated in the invasion process. We studied the microneme rhomboid protease, ROM1 in the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium yoelii. We find that pyROM1 is not important for efficient invasion into host cells and instead is important for survival within the host cells. Analysis of parasites developing within hepatocytes reveals a defect in PV development. We propose that pyROM1 provides a fitness advantage to parasites developing within host cells by promoting the proper modification of the PV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iset Medina Vera
- Departments of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Wandy L. Beatty
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kami Kim
- Departments of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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