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Evbuomwan IO, Alejolowo OO, Elebiyo TC, Nwonuma CO, Ojo OA, Edosomwan EU, Chikwendu JI, Elosiuba NV, Akulue JC, Dogunro FA, Rotimi DE, Osemwegie OO, Ojo AB, Ademowo OG, Adeyemi OS, Oluba OM. In silico modeling revealed phytomolecules derived from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) leaf extract as promising candidates for malaria therapy. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:101-118. [PMID: 36974933 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2192799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of varying levels of resistance to currently available antimalarial drugs significantly threatens global health. This factor heightens the urgency to explore bioactive compounds from natural products with a view to discovering and developing newer antimalarial drugs with novel mode of actions. Therefore, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of sixteen phytocompounds from Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract against Plasmodium falciparum drug targets such as P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (PfMSP1) and P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). In silico approaches including molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling and 3D-QSAR were adopted to analyze the inhibitory activity of the compounds under consideration. The molecular docking results indicated that a compound swertiajaponin from C. citratus exhibited a higher binding affinity (-7.8 kcal/mol) to PfMSP1 as against the standard artesunate-amodiaquine (-6.6 kcal/mol). Swertiajaponin also formed strong hydrogen bond interactions with LYS29, CYS30, TYR34, ASN52, GLY55 and CYS28 amino acid residues. In addition, quercetin another compound from C. citratus exhibited significant binding energies -6.8 and -8.3 kcal/mol with PfCSP and PfEMP1, respectively but slightly lower than the standard artemether-lumefantrine with binding energies of -7.4 kcal/mol against PfCSP and -8.7 kcal/mol against PfEMP1. Overall, the present study provides evidence that swertiajaponin and other phytomolecules from C. citratus have modulatory properties toward P. falciparum drug targets and thus may warrant further exploration in early drug discovery efforts against malaria. Furthermore, these findings lend credence to the folkloric use of C. citratus for malaria treatment.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikponmwosa Owen Evbuomwan
- SDG #03 Group - Good Health and Well-Being Research Cluster, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Department of Food Science and Microbiology, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | - Omokolade Oluwaseyi Alejolowo
- SDG #03 Group - Good Health and Well-Being Research Cluster, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | | | - Charles Obiora Nwonuma
- SDG #03 Group - Good Health and Well-Being Research Cluster, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | - Oluwafemi Adeleke Ojo
- Phytomedicine, Molecular Toxicology and Computational Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
| | - Evelyn Uwa Edosomwan
- Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | | | | | | | | | - Damilare Emmanuel Rotimi
- SDG #03 Group - Good Health and Well-Being Research Cluster, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Olusegun George Ademowo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Drug Research Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training (IMRAT), College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi
- SDG #03 Group - Good Health and Well-Being Research Cluster, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Osaki, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Olarewaju Michael Oluba
- SDG #03 Group - Good Health and Well-Being Research Cluster, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
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2
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Naghizadeh M, Singh SK, Plieskatt J, Ofori EA, Theisen M. Production and Purification of Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Protein in Lactococcus lactis. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2762:109-121. [PMID: 38315362 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3666-4_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a vector-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites of which Plasmodium falciparum contributed to an estimated 247 million cases worldwide in 2021 (WHO malaria report 2022). The P. falciparum Circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) covers the surface of the sporozoite which is critical to cell invasion in the human host. PfCSP is the leading pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate and forms the basis of the RTS'S (Mosquirix®) malaria vaccine. However, high-yield production of full-length PfCSP with proper folding has been challenging. Here, we describe expression and purification of full-length PfCSP (containing 4 NVDP and 38 NANP repeats) with proper conformation by a simple three-step procedure in the Lactococcus lactis expression system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Naghizadeh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susheel K Singh
- Biotherapeutic and Vaccine Research Division, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Jordan Plieskatt
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ebenezer Addo Ofori
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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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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Aguirre-Botero MC, Wang LT, Formaglio P, Aliprandini E, Thiberge JM, Schön A, Flores-Garcia Y, Mathis-Torres S, Flynn BJ, da Silva Pereira L, Le Duff Y, Hurley M, Nacer A, Bowyer PW, Zavala F, Idris AH, Francica JR, Seder RA, Amino R. Cytotoxicity of human antibodies targeting the circumsporozoite protein is amplified by 3D substrate and correlates with protection. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112681. [PMID: 37389992 PMCID: PMC10468621 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112681] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) targeting the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) on the sporozoite surface are a promising tool for preventing malaria infection. However, their mechanisms of protection remain unclear. Here, using 13 distinctive PfCSP hmAbs, we provide a comprehensive view of how PfCSP hmAbs neutralize sporozoites in host tissues. Sporozoites are most vulnerable to hmAb-mediated neutralization in the skin. However, rare but potent hmAbs additionally neutralize sporozoites in the blood and liver. Efficient protection in tissues mainly associates with high-affinity and high-cytotoxicity hmAbs inducing rapid parasite loss-of-fitness in the absence of complement and host cells in vitro. A 3D-substrate assay greatly enhances hmAb cytotoxicity and mimics the skin-dependent protection, indicating that the physical stress imposed on motile sporozoites by the skin is crucial for unfolding the protective potential of hmAbs. This functional 3D cytotoxicity assay can thus be useful for downselecting potent anti-PfCSP hmAbs and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela C Aguirre-Botero
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity, BioSPC, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Lawrence T Wang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Pauline Formaglio
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity, BioSPC, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Eduardo Aliprandini
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity, BioSPC, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Michel Thiberge
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity, BioSPC, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Arne Schön
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Shamika Mathis-Torres
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Barbara J Flynn
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lais da Silva Pereira
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yann Le Duff
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Mathew Hurley
- Centre for Aids Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Adéla Nacer
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Paul W Bowyer
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Azza H Idris
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph R Francica
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Malaria Infection and Immunity, BioSPC, F-75015, Paris, France.
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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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Hogwood J, Gray E, Mulloy B. Heparin, Heparan Sulphate and Sepsis: Potential New Options for Treatment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:271. [PMID: 37259415 PMCID: PMC9959362 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening hyperreaction to infection in which excessive inflammatory and immune responses cause damage to host tissues and organs. The glycosaminoglycan heparan sulphate (HS) is a major component of the cell surface glycocalyx. Cell surface HS modulates several of the mechanisms involved in sepsis such as pathogen interactions with the host cell and neutrophil recruitment and is a target for the pro-inflammatory enzyme heparanase. Heparin, a close structural relative of HS, is used in medicine as a powerful anticoagulant and antithrombotic. Many studies have shown that heparin can influence the course of sepsis-related processes as a result of its structural similarity to HS, including its strong negative charge. The anticoagulant activity of heparin, however, limits its potential in treatment of inflammatory conditions by introducing the risk of bleeding and other adverse side-effects. As the anticoagulant potency of heparin is largely determined by a single well-defined structural feature, it has been possible to develop heparin derivatives and mimetic compounds with reduced anticoagulant activity. Such heparin mimetics may have potential for use as therapeutic agents in the context of sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hogwood
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Elaine Gray
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Stamford St., London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Barbara Mulloy
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Stamford St., London SE1 9NH, UK
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Chen X, Wang Y, Liu H, Zhang J, Wang J, Jin X, Ma Y. CSP I-plus modified rEndostatin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis via down-regulation of VEGFA and integrinβ1. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1200. [PMID: 36419008 PMCID: PMC9682839 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10318-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In our previous study, N end of the Circumsporozoite protein (CSP I-plus) modified recombinant human Endostatin (rEndostatin, endostar) (rES-CSP) was constructed, which had antiangiogenic capability and bound to hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo and in vitro. In this study, the inhibition of rES-CSP on hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis was verified in vivo and in vitro, and its possible mechanism was explored. METHODS Firstly, the impact of rES-CSP on the migration, adhesion of hepatoma cell HCCLM3 was identified by wound healing, transwell, and on metastasis of orthotopic xenograft model was identified in nude mouse. Then the expression of metastasis-associated molecules (MMP2, E-cadherin, integrinβ1) and angiogenesis-related factors (VEGFA) in vitro and in vivo were detected by real-time PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Finally, we found that rES-CSP could inhibit the migration and invasion of HCCLM3, and decrease tumor metastasis and growth in nude mouse orthotopic xenograft models. The tumor inhibiting rates of rES-CSP and Endostar were 42.46 ± 5.39% and 11.1 ± 1.88%. The lung metastasis rates of the control, Endostar and rES-CSP were 71, 50, and 42.8%, respectively. Compared with Endostar, rES-CSP significantly down-regulated the expression of VEGFA and integrinβ1. Heparin, a competitive inhibitor of CSP I-plus, which can be bind to the highly-sulfated heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) over-expressed in liver and hepatocellular carcinoma, alleviated the down-regulation of VEGFA and integrinβ1. CONCLUSIONS These indicate that rES-CSP may play a role in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis by down-regulating the angiogenic factor VEGF and the metastasis-related molecules or by interfering with HSPGs-mediated tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Chen
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280, East Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Yan Wang
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300Zhongshan Campus Laboratory Center, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Hancong Liu
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280, East Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280, East Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Jie Wang
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280, East Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Xiaobao Jin
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280, East Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Yan Ma
- grid.411847.f0000 0004 1804 4300Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, No. 280, East Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006 China
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Khattab A, Rezola M, Barroso M, Kyrklund M, Pihlajamaa T, Freitag TL, van Gemert GJ, Bousema T, Permi P, Turunen O, Sauerwein R, Luty AJF, Meri S. Hijacking the human complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein by the sporozoite stage of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1051161. [PMID: 36479121 PMCID: PMC9720182 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1051161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system is considered the first line of defense against pathogens. Hijacking complement regulators from blood is a common evasion tactic of pathogens to inhibit complement activation on their surfaces. Here, we report hijacking of the complement C4b-binding protein (C4bp), the regulator of the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation, by the sporozoite (SPZ) stage of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. This was shown by direct binding of radiolabeled purified C4bp to live SPZs as well as by binding of C4bp from human serum to SPZs in indirect immunofluorescence assays. Using a membrane-bound peptide array, peptides from the N-terminal domain (NTD) of P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) were found to bind C4bp. Soluble biotinylated peptide covering the same region on the NTD and a recombinantly expressed NTD also bound C4bp in a dose-dependent manner. NTD-binding site on C4bp was mapped to the CCP1-2 of the C4bp α-chain, a common binding site for many pathogens. Native CSP was also co-immunoprecipitated with C4bp from human serum. Preventing C4bp binding to the SPZ surface negatively affected the SPZs gliding motility in the presence of functional complement and malaria hyperimmune IgG confirming the protective role of C4bp in controlling complement activation through the classical pathway on the SPZ surface. Incorporating the CSP-C4bp binding region into a CSP-based vaccine formulation could induce vaccine-mediated immunity that neutralizes this immune evasion region and increases the vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Khattab
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Nucleic Acid Research, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt,*Correspondence: Ayman Khattab,
| | - Mikel Rezola
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marta Barroso
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikael Kyrklund
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Tero Pihlajamaa
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tobias L. Freitag
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Perttu Permi
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ossi Turunen
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland,School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | | | | | - Seppo Meri
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,HUSLAB Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
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10
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He ZQ, Zhang QQ, Wang D, Hu YB, Zhou RM, Qian D, Yang CY, Lu DL, Li SH, Liu Y, Zhang HW. Genetic polymorphism of circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum among Chinese migrant workers returning from Africa to Henan Province. Malar J 2022; 21:248. [PMID: 36030242 PMCID: PMC9419638 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04275-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum malaria is recognized as a major global public health problem. The malaria vaccine was important because the case fatality rate of falciparum malaria was high. Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) is one of the potential vaccine candidates, but the genetic polymorphism of PfCSP raises concerns regarding the efficacy of the vaccine. This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphism of PfCSP and provide data for the improvement of PfCSP-based vaccine (RTS,S malaria vaccine). METHODS Blood samples were collected from 287 Chinese migrant workers who were infected with P. falciparum and returning from Africa to Henan Province during 2016-2018. The Pfcsp genes were analysed to estimate the genetic diversity of this parasite. RESULTS The results showed that there were two mutations at the N-terminus of imported Pfcsp in Henan Province, including insertion amino acids (58.71%, 118/201) and A → G (38.81%, 78/201). The number of repeats of tetrapeptide motifs (NANP/NVDP/NPNP/NVDA) in the central repeat region ranged mainly from 39 to 42 (97.51%, 196/201). A total of 14 nonsynonymous amino acid changes were found at the C-terminus. The average nucleotide difference (K) of imported Pfcsp in Henan Province was 5.719, and the haplotype diversity (Hd) was 0.964 ± 0.004. The estimated value of dN-dS was 0.047, indicating that the region may be affected by positive natural selection. The minimum number of recombination events (Rm) of imported Pfcsp in Henan Province was close to that in Africa. The analysis of genetic differentiation showed that there may be moderate differentiation between East Africa and North Africa (Fst = 0.06484), and the levels of differentiation in the other regions were very small (Fst < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The N-terminus of Pfcsp was relatively conserved, and the central repeat region and the Th2R and Th3R regions of the C-terminus were highly polymorphic. The gene polymorphism pattern among Chinese migrant workers returning from Africa to Henan Province was consistent with that in Africa. The geographical pattern of population differentiation and the evidence of natural selection and gene recombination suggested that the effect of polymorphism on the efficacy of PfCSP-based vaccines should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Quan He
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China
| | - Qun-Qun Zhang
- Fengtai District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China
| | - Ya-Bo Hu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Rui-Min Zhou
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China
| | - Dan Qian
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China
| | - Cheng-Yun Yang
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China
| | - De-Ling Lu
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China
| | - Su-Hua Li
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China. .,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China.
| | - Hong-Wei Zhang
- Department of Parasite Disease Control and Prevention, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China. .,Henan Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganisms, No. 105 South Agricultural Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450016, China.
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11
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Ding M, Huang Z, Wang X, Liu X, Xu L, Chen P, Liu J, Liu Y, Guan H, Chu Y, Liu H. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans-mediated targeted delivery of TGF-β1-binding peptide to liver for improved anti-liver fibrotic activity in vitro and in vivo. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:1516-1525. [PMID: 35452701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Elevated expressions of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, thus attenuating the excessive TGF-β1's activity by TGF-β1-binding peptide is an ideal strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis. However, the application of small peptide as a pharmaceutical agent is obstacle due to difficult preparation and non-selective delivery. The I-plus sequences of circumsporozoite protein (CSP-I) possesses high affinity for heparan sulfate proteoglycans, which are primarily located on liver tissues. TGF-β1-binding peptide P15 holds specific ability of binding to TGF-β1. In this study, we describe an approach to efficiently preparing liver-targeting peptide P15-CSP-I, which is conjugation of the sequences of P15 to the N-terminus of CSP-I, from the cleavage of biological macromolecule SUMO-tagged P15-CSP-I. In vitro and ex vivo binding assay showed that P15-CSP-I specifically targeted to the hepatocytes and liver tissues. Moreover, P15-CSP-I inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and decreased fibrosis-related proteins expression in TGF-β1-activated HSCs in vitro. Furthermore, P15-CSP-I ameliorated liver morphology and decreased the fibrosis responses in vivo. Taken together, P15-CSP-I may be a potential candidate for targeting therapy on liver fibrosis due to its high efficient preparation, specific liver-targeting potential and improved anti-liver fibrotic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minglu Ding
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Zhen Huang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China; Department of Pediatrics Nursing, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, PR China
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China; Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China.
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Liming Xu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Peijian Chen
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Jieting Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Yong Liu
- Medical Research Center, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Huilin Guan
- Medical Research Center, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Yanhui Chu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China
| | - Haifeng Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China; Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, PR China.
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12
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Memvanga PB, Nkanga CI. Liposomes for malaria management: the evolution from 1980 to 2020. Malar J 2021; 20:327. [PMID: 34315484 PMCID: PMC8313885 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03858-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases and the foremost cause of morbidity in the tropical regions of the world. Strategies for the efficient management of this parasitic infection include adequate treatment with anti-malarial therapeutics and vaccination. However, the emergence and spread of resistant strains of malaria parasites to the majority of presently used anti-malarial medications, on the other hand, complicates malaria treatment. Other shortcomings of anti-malarial drugs include poor aqueous solubility, low permeability, poor bioavailability, and non-specific targeting of intracellular parasites, resulting in high dose requirements and toxic side effects. To address these limitations, liposome-based nanotechnology has been extensively explored as a new solution in malaria management. Liposome technology improves anti-malarial drug encapsulation, bioavailability, target delivery, and controlled release, resulting in increased effectiveness, reduced resistance progression, and fewer adverse effects. Furthermore, liposomes are exploited as immunological adjuvants and antigen carriers to boost the preventive effectiveness of malaria vaccine candidates. The present review discusses the findings from studies conducted over the last 40 years (1980-2020) using in vitro and in vivo settings to assess the prophylactic and curative anti-malarial potential of liposomes containing anti-malarial agents or antigens. This paper and the discussion herein provide a useful resource for further complementary investigations and may pave the way for the research and development of several available and affordable anti-malarial-based liposomes and liposomal malaria vaccines by allowing a thorough evaluation of liposomes developed to date for the management of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B Memvanga
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 212, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
| | - Christian I Nkanga
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 212, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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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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Pholcharee T, Oyen D, Flores-Garcia Y, Gonzalez-Paez G, Han Z, Williams KL, Volkmuth W, Emerling D, Locke E, Richter King C, Zavala F, Wilson IA. Structural and biophysical correlation of anti-NANP antibodies with in vivo protection against P. falciparum. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1063. [PMID: 33594061 PMCID: PMC7887213 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21221-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The most advanced P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein-based malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S), confers partial protection but with antibody titers that wane relatively rapidly, highlighting the need to elicit more potent and durable antibody responses. Here, we elucidate crystal structures, binding affinities and kinetics, and in vivo protection of eight anti-NANP antibodies derived from an RTS,S phase 2a trial and encoded by three different heavy-chain germline genes. The structures reinforce the importance of homotypic Fab-Fab interactions in protective antibodies and the overwhelmingly dominant preference for a germline-encoded aromatic residue for recognition of the NANP motif. In this study, antibody apparent affinity correlates best with protection in an in vivo mouse model, with the more potent antibodies also recognizing epitopes with repeating secondary structural motifs of type I β- and Asn pseudo 310 turns; such insights can be incorporated into design of more effective immunogens and antibodies for passive immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tossapol Pholcharee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David Oyen
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Pfizer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gonzalo Gonzalez-Paez
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zhen Han
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Wondfo USA Co., Ltd, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Emily Locke
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Fidel Zavala
- Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ian A Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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15
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Molgora BM, Rai AK, Sweredoski MJ, Moradian A, Hess S, Johnson PJ. A Novel Trichomonas vaginalis Surface Protein Modulates Parasite Attachment via Protein:Host Cell Proteoglycan Interaction. mBio 2021; 12:e03374-20. [PMID: 33563826 PMCID: PMC7885099 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03374-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is a highly prevalent, sexually transmitted parasite which adheres to mucosal epithelial cells to colonize the human urogenital tract. Despite adherence being crucial for this extracellular parasite to thrive within the host, relatively little is known about the mechanisms or key molecules involved in this process. Here, we have identified and characterized a T. vaginalis hypothetical protein, TVAG_157210 (TvAD1), as a surface protein that plays an integral role in parasite adherence to the host. Quantitative proteomics revealed TvAD1 to be ∼4-fold more abundant in parasites selected for increased adherence (MA parasites) than the isogenic parental (P) parasite line. De novo modeling suggested that TvAD1 binds N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a sugar comprising host glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Adherence assays utilizing GAG-deficient cell lines determined that host GAGs, primarily heparan sulfate (HS), mediate adherence of MA parasites to host cells. TvAD1 knockout (KO) parasites, generated using CRISPR-Cas9, were found to be significantly reduced in host cell adherence, a phenotype that is rescued by overexpression of TvAD1 in KO parasites. In contrast, there was no significant difference in parasite adherence to GAG-deficient lines by KO parasites compared with wild-type, which is contrary to that observed for KO parasites overexpressing TvAD1. Isothermal titration calorimetric (ITC) analysis showed that TvAD1 binds to HS, indicating that TvAD1 mediates host cell adherence via HS interaction. In addition to characterizing the role of TvAD1 in parasite adherence, these studies reveal a role for host GAG molecules in T. vaginalis adherence.IMPORTANCE The ability of the sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis to adhere to its human host is critical for establishing and maintaining an infection. Yet how parasites adhere to host cells is poorly understood. In this study, we employed a novel adherence selection method to identify proteins involved in parasite adherence to the host. This method led to the identification of a protein, with no previously known function, that is more abundant in parasites with increased capacity to bind host cells. Bioinformatic modeling and biochemical analyses revealed that this protein binds a common component on the host cell surface proteoglycans. Subsequent creation of parasites that lack this protein directly demonstrated that the protein mediates parasite adherence via an interaction with host cell proteoglycans. These findings both demonstrate a role for this protein in T. vaginalis adherence to the host and shed light on host cell molecules that participate in parasite colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda M Molgora
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anand Kumar Rai
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael J Sweredoski
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Annie Moradian
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Sonja Hess
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Patricia J Johnson
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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16
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Heparin Administered to Anopheles in Membrane Feeding Assays Blocks Plasmodium Development in the Mosquito. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10081136. [PMID: 32752200 PMCID: PMC7463908 DOI: 10.3390/biom10081136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Innovative antimalarial strategies are urgently needed given the alarming evolution of resistance to every single drug developed against Plasmodium parasites. The sulfated glycosaminoglycan heparin has been delivered in membrane feeding assays together with Plasmodium berghei-infected blood to Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. The transition between ookinete and oocyst pathogen stages in the mosquito has been studied in vivo through oocyst counting in dissected insect midguts, whereas ookinete interactions with heparin have been followed ex vivo by flow cytometry. Heparin interferes with the parasite's ookinete-oocyst transition by binding ookinetes, but it does not affect fertilization. Hypersulfated heparin is a more efficient blocker of ookinete development than native heparin, significantly reducing the number of oocysts per midgut when offered to mosquitoes at 5 µg/mL in membrane feeding assays. Direct delivery of heparin to mosquitoes might represent a new antimalarial strategy of rapid implementation, since it would not require clinical trials for its immediate deployment.
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Pholcharee T, Oyen D, Torres JL, Flores-Garcia Y, Martin GM, González-Páez GE, Emerling D, Volkmuth W, Locke E, King CR, Zavala F, Ward AB, Wilson IA. Diverse Antibody Responses to Conserved Structural Motifs in Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein. J Mol Biol 2019; 432:1048-1063. [PMID: 31883801 PMCID: PMC7057269 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S/AS01 is based on the central and C-terminal regions of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of P. falciparum. mAb397 was isolated from a volunteer in an RTS,S/AS01 clinical trial, and it protects mice from infection by malaria sporozoites. However, mAb397 originates from the less commonly used VH3-15 germline gene compared to the VH3-30/33 antibodies generally elicited by RTS,S to the central NANP repeat region of CSP. The crystal structure of mAb397 with an NPNA4 peptide shows that the central NPNA forms a type I β-turn and is the main recognition motif. In most anti-NANP antibodies studied to date, a germline-encoded Trp is used to engage the Pro in NPNA β-turns, but here the Trp interacts with the first Asn. This “conserved” Trp, however, can arise from different germline genes and be located in the heavy or the light chain. Variation in the terminal ψ angles of the NPNA β-turns results in different dispositions of the subsequent NPNA and, hence, different stoichiometries and modes of antibody binding to rsCSP. Diverse protective antibodies against NANP repeats are therefore not limited to a single germline gene response or mode of binding. mAb397 from an RTS,S trial binds NANP repeats of malaria circumsporozoite protein. Protective mAb397 is encoded by the VH3-15 gene that is rare for NANP antibodies. Anti-NANP mAbs bind type I β-turns in three modes using germline-encoded Trp residues. The Trp of mAb397 interacts with Asn instead of Pro in the NPNA type I β-turn. Diversity in NANP immune responses can aid in next-generation vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tossapol Pholcharee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - David Oyen
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jonathan L Torres
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21204, USA
| | - Gregory M Martin
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Gonzalo E González-Páez
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | | | | | - Emily Locke
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, PATH Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - C Richter King
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, PATH Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Fidel Zavala
- Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21204, USA
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ian A Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA; The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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18
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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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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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20
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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: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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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21
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Oyen D, Torres JL, Cottrell CA, Richter King C, Wilson IA, Ward AB. Cryo-EM structure of P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein with a vaccine-elicited antibody is stabilized by somatically mutated inter-Fab contacts. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaau8529. [PMID: 30324137 PMCID: PMC6179375 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau8529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites is important for parasite development, motility, and host hepatocyte invasion. However, intrinsic disorder of the NANP repeat sequence in the central region of CSP has hindered its structural and functional characterization. Here, the cryo-electron microscopy structure at ~3.4-Å resolution of a recombinant shortened CSP construct with the variable domains (Fabs) of a highly protective monoclonal antibody reveals an extended spiral conformation of the central NANP repeat region surrounded by antibodies. This unusual structure appears to be stabilized and/or induced by interaction with an antibody where contacts between adjacent Fabs are somatically mutated and enhance the interaction. This maturation in non-antigen contact residues may be an effective mechanism for antibodies to target tandem repeat sequences and provide novel insights into malaria vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Oyen
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jonathan L. Torres
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Christopher A. Cottrell
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - C. Richter King
- PATH’s Malaria Vaccine Initiative, PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Ian A. Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrew B. Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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22
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A human monoclonal antibody prevents malaria infection by targeting a new site of vulnerability on the parasite. Nat Med 2018; 24:408-416. [PMID: 29554083 PMCID: PMC5893371 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Development of a highly effective vaccine or antibodies for the prevention and ultimately elimination of malaria is urgently needed. Here we report the isolation of a number of human monoclonal antibodies directed against the Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) from several subjects immunized with an attenuated Pf whole-sporozoite (SPZ) vaccine (Sanaria PfSPZ Vaccine). Passive transfer of one of these antibodies, monoclonal antibody CIS43, conferred high-level, sterile protection in two different mouse models of malaria infection. The affinity and stoichiometry of CIS43 binding to PfCSP indicate that there are two sequential multivalent binding events encompassing the repeat domain. The first binding event is to a unique 'junctional' epitope positioned between the N terminus and the central repeat domain of PfCSP. Moreover, CIS43 prevented proteolytic cleavage of PfCSP on PfSPZ. Analysis of crystal structures of the CIS43 antigen-binding fragment in complex with the junctional epitope determined the molecular interactions of binding, revealed the epitope's conformational flexibility and defined Asn-Pro-Asn (NPN) as the structural repeat motif. The demonstration that CIS43 is highly effective for passive prevention of malaria has potential application for use in travelers, military personnel and elimination campaigns and identifies a new and conserved site of vulnerability on PfCSP for next-generation rational vaccine design.
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23
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Boucher LE, Hopp CS, Muthinja JM, Frischknecht F, Bosch J. Discovery of Plasmodium (M)TRAP-Aldolase Interaction Stabilizers Interfering with Sporozoite Motility and Invasion. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:620-634. [PMID: 29411968 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
As obligate, intracellular parasites, Plasmodium spp. rely on invasion of host cells in order to replicate and continue their life cycle. The parasite needs to traverse the dermis and endothelium of blood vessels, invade hepatocytes and red blood cells, traverse the mosquito midgut, and enter the salivary glands to continue the cycle of infection and transmission. To traverse and invade cells, the parasite employs an actomyosin motor at the core of a larger invasion machinery complex known as the glideosome. The complex is comprised of multiple protein-protein interactions linking the motor to the internal cytoskeletal network of the parasite and to the extracellular adhesins, which directly contact the host tissue or cell surface. One key interaction is between the cytoplasmic tails of the thrombospondin related anonymous protein (TRAP) and aldolase, a bridging protein to the motor. Here, we present results from screening the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) library of 400 compounds against this key protein-protein interaction. Using a surface plasmon resonance screen, we have identified several compounds that modulate the dynamics of the interaction between TRAP and aldolase. These compounds have been validated in vitro by studying their effects on sporozoite gliding motility and hepatocyte invasion. One of the MMV compounds identified reduced invasion levels by 89% at the lowest concentration tested (16 μM) and severely inhibited gliding at even lower concentrations (5 μM). By targeting protein-protein interactions, we investigated an under-explored area of parasite biology and general drug development, to identify potential antimalarial lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Boucher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Christine S. Hopp
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Julianne Mendi Muthinja
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bosch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- InterRayBio, LLC, 1812 Ashland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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24
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Tamura T, Kawabata C, Matsushita S, Sakaguchi M, Yoshida S. Malaria sporozoite protein expression enhances baculovirus-mediated gene transfer to hepatocytes. J Gene Med 2018; 18:75-85. [PMID: 27007512 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Baculovirus vector (BV) is able to transduce foreign genes into mammalian cells efficiently and safely by incorporating a mammalian promoter. In the present study, we tailored the surface proteins expressed by malaria sporozoites to enhance hepatocyte transduction. Sporozoites infect hepatocytes within minutes of initial entry into the blood circulation. Infectivity and hepatocyte-specific selectivity are mediated by the interplay between hepatocytes and sporozoite surface proteins. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and the thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) bind to the heparan sulfate proteoglycan on the hepatocyte surface and contribute to sporozoite infection and hepatocyte selectivity. METHODS BVs displaying an ectodomain consisting of three different CSP variants (full-length, N-terminal and C-terminal) or TRAP on the virus envelope were constructed, and the resulting in vitro hepatocyte transduction efficiency was evaluated. RESULTS We demonstrated improved hepatocyte transduction efficiency in BVs expressing CSP or TRAP ectodomains compared to BVs without malaria surface proteins. In addition, gene transduction efficiencies for BVs displaying CSP or TRAP are higher than those expressing the preS1 antigen of the hepatitis B virus. CONCLUSIONS BVs expressing CSP or TRAP in the ectodomain could represent a promising hepatocyte-specific gene delivery methodology. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiko Tamura
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Chiaki Kawabata
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Matsushita
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Miako Sakaguchi
- Electron Microscope Room, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shigeto Yoshida
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University, School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Japan
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25
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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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Structural basis for antibody recognition of the NANP repeats in Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E10438-E10445. [PMID: 29138320 PMCID: PMC5715787 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715812114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has been studied for decades as a potential immunogen, but little structural information is available on how antibodies recognize the immunodominant NANP repeats within CSP. The most advanced vaccine candidate is RTS,S, which includes multiple NANP repeats. Here, we analyzed two functional antibodies from an RTS,S trial and determined the number of repeats that interact with the antibody Fab fragments using isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography. Using negative-stain electron microscopy, we also established how the antibody binds to the NANP repeat region in a recombinant CSP construct. The structural features outlined here provide a rationale for structure-based immunogen design to improve upon the efficacy of the current RTS,S vaccine. Acquired resistance against antimalarial drugs has further increased the need for an effective malaria vaccine. The current leading candidate, RTS,S, is a recombinant circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum that contains 19 NANP repeats followed by a thrombospondin repeat domain. Although RTS,S has undergone extensive clinical testing and has progressed through phase III clinical trials, continued efforts are underway to enhance its efficacy and duration of protection. Here, we determined that two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs 311 and 317), isolated from a recent controlled human malaria infection trial exploring a delayed fractional dose, inhibit parasite development in vivo by at least 97%. Crystal structures of antibody fragments (Fabs) 311 and 317 with an (NPNA)3 peptide illustrate their different binding modes. Notwithstanding, one and three of the three NPNA repeats adopt similar well-defined type I β-turns with Fab311 and Fab317, respectively. Furthermore, to explore antibody binding in the context of P. falciparum CSP, we used negative-stain electron microscopy on a recombinant shortened CSP (rsCSP) construct saturated with Fabs. Both complexes display a compact rsCSP with multiple Fabs bound, with the rsCSP–Fab311 complex forming a highly organized helical structure. Together, these structural insights may aid in the design of a next-generation malaria vaccine.
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Yeow N, Tabor RF, Garnier G. Atomic force microscopy: From red blood cells to immunohaematology. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2017; 249:149-162. [PMID: 28515013 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2017.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers complementary imaging modes that can provide morphological and structural details of red blood cells (RBCs), and characterize interactions between specific biomolecules and RBC surface antigen. This review describes the applications of AFM in determining RBC health by the observation of cell morphology, elasticity and surface roughness. Measurement of interaction forces between plasma proteins and antibodies against RBC surface antigen using the AFM also brought new information to the immunohaematology field. With constant improvisation of the AFM in resolution and imaging time, the reaction of RBC to changes in the physico-chemistry of its environment and the presence of RBC surface antigen specific-biomolecules is achievable.
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Zeng W, Wu C, Wang J, Cao L, Jin X, Zhu J, Lu X. Toxicologic evaluations of recombinant liver-targeting interferon IFN-CSP: Genotoxicity and tegenicratoity. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 89:13-19. [PMID: 28709686 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Interferon alpha as the one of FDA recommended drugs for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has many side effects. Targeting IFNα to the liver may be a strategy to increase its efficacy locally and may increase efficacy of IFNα-based therapy of HBV infection. We have prepared a novel liver-targeting fusion interferon (IFN-CSP) combining IFN α2b with plasmodium region I peptide and have revealed it may be an excellent candidate as a liver-targeting anti-HBV agent. In this study, we investigated the genotoxic and teratogenic effects of IFN-CSP. The genotoxicity of IFN-CSP was evaluated by using a standard battery of tests (bacterial reverse mutation assay, mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay, and mouse sperm malformation assay). The results showed that IFN-CSP did not increase the number of revertant colonies in the plates of four strains, had no marked effect on the incidence of mouse bone marrow micronucleus and did not affect sperm deformity proportion at doses up to 8.8 × 108IU/kg, which was 1128.2 folds of the maximum' clinical equivalent dosage. Meanwhile, for teratogenicity test of IFN-CSP in female SD rats at the dosage of 6.3 × 107 IU/kg, no toxicological signs were observed. These results indicated that IFN-CSP has no genotoxicity and teratogenicity under the testing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Zeng
- School of Basic Courses, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxu Wu
- School of Basic Courses, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Wang
- School of Basic Courses, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingjie Cao
- School of Basic Courses, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobao Jin
- School of Basic Courses, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayong Zhu
- School of Basic Courses, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xuemei Lu
- School of Basic Courses, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, 280 Wai Huan Dong Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Abstract
Heparin is one of the oldest drugs, which nevertheless remains in widespread clinical use as an inhibitor of blood coagulation. The history of its identification a century ago unfolded amid one of the most fascinating scientific controversies turning around the distribution of credit for its discovery. The composition, purification and structure-function relationship of this naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan regarding its classical role as anticoagulant will be dealt with before proceeding to discuss its therapeutic potential in, among other, inflammatory and infectious disease, cancer treatment, cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer's disease. The first bibliographic reference hit using the words 'nanomedicine' and 'heparin' is as recent as 2008. Since then, nanomedical applications of heparin have experienced an exponential growth that will be discussed in detail, with particular emphasis on its antimalarial activity. Some of the most intriguing potential applications of heparin nanomedicines will be exposed, such as those contemplating the delivery of drugs to the mosquito stages of malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Lantero
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, ES-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, ES-08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, ES-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, ES-08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, ES-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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30
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Marques J, Valle-Delgado JJ, Urbán P, Baró E, Prohens R, Mayor A, Cisteró P, Delves M, Sinden RE, Grandfils C, de Paz JL, García-Salcedo JA, Fernàndez-Busquets X. Adaptation of targeted nanocarriers to changing requirements in antimalarial drug delivery. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2016; 13:515-525. [PMID: 27720930 PMCID: PMC5332526 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The adaptation of existing antimalarial nanocarriers to new Plasmodium stages, drugs, targeting molecules, or encapsulating structures is a strategy that can provide new nanotechnology-based, cost-efficient therapies against malaria. We have explored the modification of different liposome prototypes that had been developed in our group for the targeted delivery of antimalarial drugs to Plasmodium-infected red blood cells (pRBCs). These new models include: (i) immunoliposome-mediated release of new lipid-based antimalarials; (ii) liposomes targeted to pRBCs with covalently linked heparin to reduce anticoagulation risks; (iii) adaptation of heparin to pRBC targeting of chitosan nanoparticles; (iv) use of heparin for the targeting of Plasmodium stages in the mosquito vector; and (v) use of the non-anticoagulant glycosaminoglycan chondroitin 4-sulfate as a heparin surrogate for pRBC targeting. The results presented indicate that the tuning of existing nanovessels to new malaria-related targets is a valid low-cost alternative to the de novo development of targeted nanosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Marques
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan José Valle-Delgado
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Urbán
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Baró
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafel Prohens
- Unitat de Polimorfisme i Calorimetria, Centres Científics i Tecnològics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Cisteró
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Delves
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Robert E Sinden
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - Christian Grandfils
- Interfacultary Research Center of Biomaterials (CEIB), University of Liège, Chemistry Institute, Liège (Sart-Tilman), Belgium
| | - José L de Paz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ) CSIC-US, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de La Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José A García-Salcedo
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs. Granada, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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31
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Urbán P, Ranucci E, Fernàndez-Busquets X. Polyamidoamine nanoparticles as nanocarriers for the drug delivery to malaria parasite stages in the mosquito vector. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2016; 10:3401-14. [PMID: 26582279 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.15.174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is arguably one of the main medical concerns worldwide because of the numbers of people affected, the severity of the disease and the complexity of the life cycle of its causative agent, the protist Plasmodium spp. With the advent of nanoscience, renewed hopes have appeared of finally obtaining the long sought-after magic bullet against malaria in the form of a nanovector for the targeted delivery of antimalarial compounds exclusively to Plasmodium-infected cells, thus increasing drug efficacy and minimizing the induction of resistance to newly developed therapeutic agents. Polyamidoamine-derived nanovectors combine into a single chemical structure drug encapsulating capacity, antimalarial activity, low unspecific toxicity, specific targeting to Plasmodium, optimal in vivo activity and affordable synthesis cost. After having shown their efficacy in targeting drugs to intraerythrocytic parasites, now polyamidoamines face the challenge of spearheading a new generation of nanocarriers aiming at the malaria parasite stages in the mosquito vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Urbán
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health & Consumer Protection, via E. Fermi 2749, IT-21027, Ispra, Varese, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ranucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, IT-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac 10-12, ES-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, ES-08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, ES-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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32
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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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33
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Credi C, De Marco C, Molena E, Pla Roca M, Samitier Martí J, Marques J, Fernàndez-Busquets X, Levi M, Turri S. Heparin micropatterning onto fouling-release perfluoropolyether-based polymers via photobiotin activation. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2016; 146:250-9. [PMID: 27351136 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
A simple method for constructing versatile ordered biotin/avidin arrays on UV-curable perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) is presented. The goal is the realization of a versatile platform where any biotinylated biological ligands can be further linked to the underlying biotin/avidin array. To this end, microcontact arrayer and microcontact printing technologies were developed for photobiotin direct printing on PFPEs. As attested by fluorescence images, we demonstrate that this photoactive form of biotin is capable of grafting onto PFPEs surfaces during irradiation. Bioaffinity conjugation of the biotin/avidin system was subsequently exploited for further self-assembly avidin family proteins onto photobiotin arrays. The excellent fouling release PFPEs surface properties enable performing avidin assembly step simply by arrays incubation without PFPEs surface passivation or chemical modification to avoid unspecific biomolecule adsorption. Finally, as a proof of principle biotinylated heparin was successfully grafted onto photobiotin/avidin arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Credi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Carmela De Marco
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Molena
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Mateu Pla Roca
- Nanobioengineering group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri-Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Samitier Martí
- Nanobioengineering group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri-Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; The Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Maria de Luna, 11, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Electronics, University of Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès, 1, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Joana Marques
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri-Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri-Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marinella Levi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Turri
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Expression of liver-targeting peptide modified recombinant human endostatin and preliminary study of its biological activities. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:7923-33. [PMID: 24908076 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5818-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant human endostatin (rEndostatin or endostar) has been shown to inhibit endothelial cells proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis and exhibits a broad spectrum of activities against solid tumors. However, rEndostatin is easily degradable and evenly distributed to all tissues. Selectively delivering rEndostatin to the lesion site might be more potent. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) coats the malarial sporozoite and targets the liver for infection; I-plus of N end of CSP could specifically bind to the liver. Based on this, we hypothesize the fusion protein with introducing the CSP I-plus sequence into rEndostatin (rES-CSP) of which not only targets the liver, but also inhibits endothelial cells proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Therefore, it selectively reduces angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and improves the anti-HCC effect. In this study, we synthesized a novel rES-CSP fusion gene by SOE-PCR and expressed the fusion protein in Escherichia coli BL2l (DE3). The suitable conditions were optimized by an orthogonal test (L(25)(5)(4)). The yields were 12 mg/l culture medium following refolding and purification on nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) metal affinity chromatography matrices. The purified rES-CSP is specifically targeted to the hepatocyte and inhibited the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a dose-dependent manner and showed potent antiangiogenic capability on HUVECs tube formation assay and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. These results lay the foundation for the further study of its targeting and anti-HCC in vivo and provide a feasible and convenient approach to produce liver-targeting drugs for treatment of the liver diseases.
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Construction of a novel liver-targeting fusion interferon by incorporation of a Plasmodium region I-plus peptide. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:261631. [PMID: 24575402 PMCID: PMC3915749 DOI: 10.1155/2014/261631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Interferon alpha (IFN α) exerts a multiplicity of biological actions including antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antiproliferative effects. Administration of IFN α is the current treatment for chronic hepatitis B; however, therapy outcome has not been completely satisfactory. The systemic effects of IFN α may account for its low in vivo biological activity and multiple adverse events. The purpose of this study was to design a novel liver-targeting fusion interferon (IFN-CSP) by fusing IFN α2b with a Plasmodium region I-plus peptide, thus targeting the drug specifically to the liver. The DNA sequence encoding IFN-CSP was constructed using improved splicing by overlapping extension-PCR method, and then cloned into the pET-21b vector for protein expression in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant protein was expressed as a His-tagged protein and purified using a combination of Ni affinity and HiTrap affinity chromatography at a purity of over 95%. The final yield of biologically active IFN-CSP was up to 270 mg/L culture. The purified recombinant protein showed anti-HBV activity and liver-targeting potentiality in vitro. These data suggests that the novel fusion interferon IFN-CSP may be an excellent candidate as a liver-targeting anti-HBV agent.
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36
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Pacheco MA, Cranfield M, Cameron K, Escalante AA. Malarial parasite diversity in chimpanzees: the value of comparative approaches to ascertain the evolution of Plasmodium falciparum antigens. Malar J 2013; 12:328. [PMID: 24044371 PMCID: PMC3848613 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum shares its most recent common ancestor with parasites found in African apes; these species constitute the so-called Laverania clade. In this investigation, the evolutionary history of Plasmodium lineages found in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) was explored. METHODS Here, the remainders of 74 blood samples collected as part of the chimpanzees' routine health examinations were studied. For all positive samples with parasite lineages belonging to the Laverania clade, the complete mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), the gene encoding dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (dhfr-ts), the chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt), the circumsporozoite protein (csp), merozoite surface protein 2 (msp2), and the DBL-1 domain from var2CSA were amplified, cloned, and sequenced. Other Plasmodium species were included in the mtDNA, dhfr-ts, and csp analyses. Phylogenetic and evolutionary genetic analyses were performed, including molecular clock analyses on the mtDNA. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS Nine chimpanzees were malaria positive (12.2%); four of those infections were identified as P. falciparum, two as a Plasmodium reichenowi-like parasite or Plasmodium sp., one as Plasmodium gaboni, and two as Plasmodium malariae. All P. falciparum isolates were resistant to chloroquine indicating that the chimpanzees acquired such infections from humans in recent times. Such findings, however, are not sufficient for implicating chimpanzees as an animal reservoir for P. falciparum.Timing estimates support that the Laverania clade has co-existed with hominids for a long-period of time. The proposed species P. gaboni, Plasmodium billbrayi, and Plasmodium billcollinsi are monophyletic groups supporting that they are indeed different species.An expanded CSP phylogeny is presented, including all the Laverania species and other malarial parasites. Contrasting with other Plasmodium, the Laverania csp exhibits great conservation at the central tandem repeat region. Msp2 and var2CSA, however, show extended recent polymorphism in P. falciparum that likely originated after the P. reichenowi-P. falciparum split. The accumulation of such diversity may indicate adaptation to the human host. These examples support the notion that comparative approaches among P. falciparum and its related species will be of great value in understanding the evolution of proteins that are important in parasite invasion of the human red blood cell, as well as those involved in malaria pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Andreína Pacheco
- Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA.
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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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Spodzieja M, Szymańska A, Kołodziejczyk A, Prądzińska M, Maszota M, Stefanowicz P, Szewczuk Z, Grubb A, Czaplewska P. Interaction of serum amyloid A with human cystatin C--identification of binding sites. J Mol Recognit 2013; 25:513-24. [PMID: 22996594 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a multifunctional acute-phase protein whose natural role seems to be participation in many physiologic and pathological processes. Prolonged increased SAA level in a number of chronic inflammatory and neoplastic diseases gives rise to reactive systemic amyloid A amyloidosis, where the N-terminal 76-amino acid residue-long segment of SAA is deposited as amyloid fibrils. Recently, a specific interaction between SAA and the ubiquitous inhibitor of cysteine proteases--human cystatin C (hCC)--has been described. Here, we report further evidence corroborating this interaction, and the identification of the SAA and hCC binding sites in the SAA-hCC complex, using a combination of selective proteolytic excision and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The shortest binding site in the SAA sequence was determined as SAA(86-104), whereas the binding site in hCC sequence was identified as hCC(96-102). Binding specificities of both interacting sequences were ascertained by affinity experiments (ELISA) and by registration of mass spectrum of SAA-hCC complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Spodzieja
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Sobieskiego 18, 80-952 Gdansk, Poland
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Zeeshan M, Alam MT, Vinayak S, Bora H, Tyagi RK, Alam MS, Choudhary V, Mittra P, Lumb V, Bharti PK, Udhayakumar V, Singh N, Jain V, Singh PP, Sharma YD. Genetic variation in the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein in India and its relevance to RTS,S malaria vaccine. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43430. [PMID: 22912873 PMCID: PMC3422267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RTS,S is the most advanced malaria vaccine candidate, currently under phase-III clinical trials in Africa. This Plasmodium falciparum vaccine contains part of the central repeat region and the complete C-terminal T cell epitope region (Th2R and Th3R) of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Since naturally occurring polymorphisms at the vaccine candidate loci are critical determinants of the protective efficacy of the vaccines, it is imperative to investigate these polymorphisms in field isolates. In this study we have investigated the genetic diversity at the central repeat, C-terminal T cell epitope (Th2R and Th3R) and N-terminal T cell epitope regions of the CSP, in P. falciparum isolates from Madhya Pradesh state of India. These isolates were collected through a 5-year prospective study aimed to develop a well-characterized field-site for the future evaluation of malaria vaccine in India. Our results revealed that the central repeat (63 haplotypes, n = 161) and C-terminal Th2R/Th3R epitope (24 haplotypes, n = 179) regions were highly polymorphic, whereas N-terminal non-repeat region was less polymorphic (5 haplotypes, n = 161) in this population. We did not find any evidence of the role of positive natural selection in maintaining the genetic diversity at the Th2R/Th3R regions of CSP. Comparative analysis of the Th2R/Th3R sequences from this study to the global isolates (n = 1160) retrieved from the GenBank database revealed two important points. First, the majority of the sequences (∼61%, n = 179) from this study were identical to the Dd2/Indochina type, which is also the predominant Th2R/Th3R haplotype in Asia (∼59%, n = 974). Second, the Th2R/Th3R sequences in Asia, South America and Africa are geographically distinct with little allele sharing between continents. In conclusion, this study provides an insight on the existing polymorphisms in the CSP in a parasite population from India that could potentially influence the efficacy of RTS,S vaccine in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zeeshan
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Tauqeer Alam
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sumiti Vinayak
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Hema Bora
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Rupesh Kumar Tyagi
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohd Shoeb Alam
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Vandana Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Pooja Mittra
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Vanshika Lumb
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Neeru Singh
- Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Vidhan Jain
- Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | | | - Yagya Dutta Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
- * E-mail:
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Accelerated resolution of AA amyloid in heparanase knockout mice is associated with matrix metalloproteases. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39899. [PMID: 22808071 PMCID: PMC3393718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2011] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AA-amyloidosis is a disease characterized by abnormal deposition of serum A amyloid (SAA) peptide along with other components in various organs. The disease is a complication of inflammatory conditions that cause persistent high levels of the acute phase reactant SAA in plasma. In experimental animal models, the deposited amyloid is resolved when the inflammation is stopped, suggesting that there is an efficient clearance mechanism for the amyloid. As heparan sulfate (HS) is one of the major components in the amyloid, its metabolism is expected to affect the pathology of AA amyloidosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of heparanase, a HS degradation enzyme, in resolution of the AA amyloid. The transgenic mice deficient in heparanase (Hpa-KO) produced a similar level of SAA in plasma as the wildtype control (Ctr) mice upon induction by injection of AEF (amyloid enhancing factor) and inflammatory stimuli. The induction resulted in formation of SAA amyloid 7-days post treatment in the spleen that displayed a comparable degree of amyloid load in both groups. The amyloid became significantly less in the Hpa-KO spleen than in the Ctr spleen 10-days post treatment, and was completely resolved in the Hpa-KO spleen on day 21 post induction, while a substantial amount was still detected in the Ctr spleen. The rapid clearance of the amyloid in the Hpa-KO mice can be ascribed to upregulated matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) that are believed to contribute to degradation of the protein components in the AA amyloid. The results indicate that both heparanase and MMPs play important parts in the pathological process of AA amyloidosis.
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Doud MB, Koksal AC, Mi LZ, Song G, Lu C, Springer TA. Unexpected fold in the circumsporozoite protein target of malaria vaccines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:7817-22. [PMID: 22547819 PMCID: PMC3356675 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1205737109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Circumsporozoite (CS) protein is the major surface component of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites and is essential for host cell invasion. A vaccine containing tandem repeats, region III, and thrombospondin type-I repeat (TSR) of CS is efficacious in phase III trials but gives only a 35% reduction in severe malaria in the first year postimmunization. We solved crystal structures showing that region III and TSR fold into a single unit, an "αTSR" domain. The αTSR domain possesses a hydrophobic pocket and core, missing in TSR domains. CS binds heparin, but αTSR does not. Interestingly, polymorphic T-cell epitopes map to specialized αTSR regions. The N and C termini are unexpectedly close, providing clues for sporozoite sheath organization. Elucidation of a unique structure of a domain within CS enables rational design of next-generation subunit vaccines and functional and medicinal chemical investigation of the conserved hydrophobic pocket.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Doud
- Immune Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Boston and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Adem C. Koksal
- Immune Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Boston and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Li-Zhi Mi
- Immune Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Boston and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Gaojie Song
- Immune Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Boston and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Chafen Lu
- Immune Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Boston and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Timothy A. Springer
- Immune Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Boston and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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Yadava A, Nurmukhambetova S, Pichugin AV, Lumsden JM. Cross-species immunity following immunization with a circumsporozoite protein-based vaccine for malaria. J Infect Dis 2012; 205:1456-63. [PMID: 22457289 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria continues to be a major public health concern, and there are concerted efforts to eliminate it. The quest for a vaccine remains a top priority, and vaccines based on the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) are among the lead candidates, with the RTS,S vaccine currently undergoing phase 3 testing in Africa. Previous studies have reported anti-CSP antibody-mediated enhancement of in vitro invasion of homologous sporozoites. This effect has been shown to be concentration dependent; high-level antibodies are inhibitory, whereas low-level antibodies lead to enhancement of invasion. Nondominant shared epitopes may lead to the generation of low titers of cross-reactive antibodies that may prove to be detrimental. We report cross-species recognition of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei sporozoites by anti-Plasmodium vivax CSP serum samples. In addition, we report that vaccination of mice with VMP001, a P. vivax CSP vaccine candidate, reduces, not enhances, P. berghei infection in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Yadava
- Malaria Vaccine Branch, United States Military Malaria Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA.
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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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Enhancing humoral responses to a malaria antigen with nanoparticle vaccines that expand Tfh cells and promote germinal center induction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:1080-5. [PMID: 22247289 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1112648109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
For subunit vaccines, adjuvants play a key role in shaping immunological memory. Nanoparticle (NP) delivery systems for antigens and/or molecular danger signals are promising adjuvants capable of promoting both cellular and humoral immune responses, but in most cases the mechanisms of action of these materials are poorly understood. Here, we studied the immune response elicited by NPs composed of multilamellar "stapled" lipid vesicles carrying a recombinant Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite antigen, VMP001, both entrapped in the aqueous core and anchored to the lipid bilayer surfaces. Immunization with these particles and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a US Food and Drug Administration-approved immunostimulatory agonist for Toll-like receptor-4, promoted high-titer, high-avidity antibody responses against VMP001, lasting more than 1 y in mice at 10-fold lower doses than conventional adjuvants. Compared to soluble VMP001 mixed with MPLA, VMP001-NPs promoted broader humoral responses, targeting multiple epitopes of the protein and a more balanced Th1/Th2 cytokine profile from antigen-specific T cells. To begin to understand the underlying mechanisms, we examined components of the B-cell response and found that NPs promoted robust germinal center (GC) formation at low doses of antigen where no GC induction occurred with soluble protein immunization, and that GCs nucleated near depots of NPs accumulating in the draining lymph nodes over time. In parallel, NP vaccination enhanced the expansion of antigen-specific follicular helper T cells (T(fh)), compared to vaccinations with soluble VMP001 or alum. Thus, NP vaccines may be a promising strategy to enhance the durability, breadth, and potency of humoral immunity by enhancing key elements of the B-cell response.
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45
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In vivo molecular imaging of peripheral amyloidosis using heparin-binding peptides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:E586-94. [PMID: 21807994 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1103247108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are ubiquitous components of pathologic amyloid deposits in the organs of patients with disorders such as Alzheimer's disease or systemic light chain (AL) or reactive (AA) amyloidosis. Molecular imaging methods for early detection are limited and generally unavailable outside the United Kingdom. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel, specific amyloidophilic radiotracers for imaging to assist in diagnosis, prognostication, and monitoring response to therapy. Amyloid-associated HSPG can be differentiated from HSPG found in surrounding healthy cells and tissues by the preferential binding of certain HS-reactive single chain variable fragments and therefore, represents a biomarker that can be targeted specifically with appropriate reagents. Using a murine model of AA amyloidosis, we have examined the in vivo amyloid reactivity of seven heparin-binding peptides by using single photon emission and X-ray computed tomographic imaging, microautoradiography, and tissue biodistribution measurements. All of the peptides bound amyloid deposits within 1 h post-injection, but the extent of the reactivity differed widely, which was evidenced by image quality and grain density in autoradiographs. One radiolabeled peptide bound specifically to murine AA amyloid in the liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal, heart, and pancreas with such avidity that it was observed in single photon emission tomography images as late as 24 h post-injection. In addition, a biotinylated form of this peptide was shown histochemically to bind human AA, ALκ, ALλ, transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), and Aβ amyloid deposits in tissue sections. These basic heparin-binding peptides recognize murine and human amyloid deposits in both in vivo and ex vivo tissues and therefore, have potential as radiotracers for the noninvasive molecular imaging of amyloid deposits in situ.
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Hernández-Martínez MÁ, Escalante AA, Arévalo-Herrera M, Herrera S. Antigenic diversity of the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein in parasite isolates of Western Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:51-7. [PMID: 21292878 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.09-0785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Circumsporozoite (CS) protein is a malaria antigen involved in sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes, and thus considered to have good vaccine potential. We evaluated the polymorphism of the Plasmodium vivax CS gene in 24 parasite isolates collected from malaria-endemic areas of Colombia. We sequenced 27 alleles, most of which (25/27) corresponded to the VK247 genotype and the remainder to the VK210 type. All VK247 alleles presented a mutation (Gly → Asn) at position 28 in the N-terminal region, whereas the C-terminal presented three insertions: the ANKKAGDAG, which is common in all VK247 isolates; 12 alleles presented the insertion GAGGQAAGGNAANKKAGDAG; and 5 alleles presented the insertion GGNAGGNA. Both repeat regions were polymorphic in gene sequence and size. Sequences coding for B-, T-CD4(+), and T-CD8(+) cell epitopes were found to be conserved. This study confirms the high polymorphism of the repeat domain and the highly conserved nature of the flanking regions.
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47
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Arévalo-Herrera M, Soto L, Perlaza BL, Céspedes N, Vera O, Lenis AM, Bonelo A, Corradin G, Herrera S. Antibody-mediated and cellular immune responses induced in naive volunteers by vaccination with long synthetic peptides derived from the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:35-42. [PMID: 21292876 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.09-0507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein is a leading malaria vaccine candidate. We describe the characterization of specific immune responses induced in 21 malaria-naive volunteers vaccinated with long synthetic peptides derived from the CS protein formulated in Montanide ISA 720. Both antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses were analyzed. Antibodies were predominantly of IgG1 and IgG3 isotypes, recognized parasite proteins on the immunofluorescent antibody test, and partially blocked sporozoite invasion of hepatoma cell lines in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from most volunteers (94%) showed IFN-γ production in vitro upon stimulation with both long signal peptide and short peptides containing CD8+ T-cell epitopes. The relatively limited sample size did not allow conclusions about HLA associations with the immune responses observed. In summary, the inherent safety and tolerability together with strong antibody responses, invasion blocking activity, and the IFN-γ production induced by these vaccine candidates warrants further testing in a phase II clinical trial.
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48
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Tsai MS, Baratta JL, Longmuir KJ, Robertson RT. Binding patterns of peptide-containing liposomes in liver and spleen of developing mice: comparison with heparan sulfate immunoreactivity. J Drug Target 2010; 19:506-15. [PMID: 20735178 DOI: 10.3109/1061186x.2010.511227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liposomes incorporating peptide from the Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein (CSP) accumulate rapidly and selectively in adult mouse liver. PURPOSE The development of the liposome-binding pattern in liver and spleen was studied in relationship to the development of extracellular matrix molecules. METHODS Liposomes were administered to mice intravascularly or applied to the surface of liver and spleen slices in vitro. Slices were analyzed immunocytochemically. RESULTS Liposomes were found along sinusoidal borders of liver, including the basolateral border of hepatocytes. The pattern was detected in the youngest animals studied (newborn). Intensity of heparan sulfate immunoreactivity increased until adult levels were reached at 20 days. Immunoreactivity for heparan sulfate proteoglycan, but not other proteoglycans, was detected in the youngest animals, and mimicked the pattern of liposome binding. The pattern of liposome binding in the spleen, concentrated in marginal zones, was similar to the pattern of heparan sulfate immunoreactivity, and also similar to the distribution of macrophage immunoreactivity. CONCLUSION The postnatal development of liposome binding parallels the development of heparan sulfate immunoreactivity, supporting the suggestion that peptide-containing liposomes target liver by binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Specific delivery of liposomes by targeting heparan sulfate proteoglycans is an effective strategy even at early time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica S Tsai
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-1280, USA
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49
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Wen-yue X, Xing-xiang W, Jie Q, Jian-hua D, Fu-sheng H. Plasmodium yoelii: influence of immune modulators on the development of the liver stage. Exp Parasitol 2010; 126:254-8. [PMID: 20493849 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2009] [Revised: 04/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites suppress the respiratory burst and antigen presentation of Kupffer cells, which are regarded as the portal of invasion into hepatocytes. It is not known whether immune modulation of Kupffer cells can affect the liver stage. In the present study, we found that sporozoites inoculated into Wistar rats could be detected in the liver, spleen, and lung; however, most sporozoites were arrested in the liver. Sporozoites were captured by Kupffer cells lined with endothelial cells in the liver sinusoid before hepatocyte invasion. Pretreatment with TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) and TLR2 agonist BCG primarily activated Kupffer cells, inhibiting the sporozoite development into the exoerythrocytic form, whereas Kupffer cell antagonists dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide promoted development of the liver stage. Our data suggests that sporozoite development into its exoerythrocytic form may be associated with Kupffer cell functional status. Immune modulation of Kupffer cells could be a promising strategy to prevent malaria parasite infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wen-yue
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Zhengjie, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
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50
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Plassmeyer ML, Reiter K, Shimp RL, Kotova S, Smith PD, Hurt DE, House B, Zou X, Zhang Y, Hickman M, Uchime O, Herrera R, Nguyen V, Glen J, Lebowitz J, Jin AJ, Miller LH, MacDonald NJ, Wu Y, Narum DL. Structure of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein, a leading malaria vaccine candidate. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:26951-63. [PMID: 19633296 PMCID: PMC2785382 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.013706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2009] [Revised: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is critical for sporozoite function and invasion of hepatocytes. Given its critical nature, a phase III human CSP malaria vaccine trial is ongoing. The CSP is composed of three regions as follows: an N terminus that binds heparin sulfate proteoglycans, a four amino acid repeat region (NANP), and a C terminus that contains a thrombospondin-like type I repeat (TSR) domain. Despite the importance of CSP, little is known about its structure. Therefore, recombinant forms of CSP were produced by expression in both Escherichia coli (Ec) and then refolded (EcCSP) or in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (PpCSP) for structural analyses. To analyze the TSR domain of recombinant CSP, conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies that recognized unfixed P. falciparum sporozoites and inhibited sporozoite invasion of HepG2 cells in vitro were identified. These monoclonal antibodies recognized all recombinant CSPs, indicating the recombinant CSPs contain a properly folded TSR domain structure. Characterization of both EcCSP and PpCSP by dynamic light scattering and velocity sedimentation demonstrated that both forms of CSP appeared as highly extended proteins (R(h) 4.2 and 4.58 nm, respectively). Furthermore, high resolution atomic force microscopy revealed flexible, rod-like structures with a ribbon-like appearance. Using this information, we modeled the NANP repeat and TSR domain of CSP. Consistent with the biochemical and biophysical results, the repeat region formed a rod-like structure about 21-25 nm in length and 1.5 nm in width. Thus native CSP appears as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored, flexible rod-like protein on the sporozoite surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Plassmeyer
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Karine Reiter
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Richard L. Shimp
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Svetlana Kotova
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Paul D. Smith
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Darrell E. Hurt
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, and
| | - Brent House
- United States Navy, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
| | - Xiaoyan Zou
- United States Navy, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
| | - Yanling Zhang
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Merrit Hickman
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Onyinyechukwu Uchime
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Raul Herrera
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Vu Nguyen
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Jacqueline Glen
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Jacob Lebowitz
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Albert J. Jin
- Laboratory of Bioengineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Louis H. Miller
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Nicholas J. MacDonald
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - Yimin Wu
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
| | - David L. Narum
- From the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852
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