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Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
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Thompson TA, Chahine Z, Le Roch KG. The role of long noncoding RNAs in malaria parasites. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:517-531. [PMID: 37121862 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The human malaria parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum, persist as a major cause of global morbidity and mortality. The recent stalling of progress toward malaria elimination substantiates a need for novel interventions. Controlled gene expression is central to the parasite's numerous life cycle transformations and adaptation. With few specific transcription factors (TFs) identified, crucial roles for chromatin states and epigenetics in parasite transcription have become evident. Although many chromatin-modifying enzymes are known, less is known about which factors mediate their impacts on transcriptional variation. Like those of higher eukaryotes, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been shown to have integral roles in parasite gene regulation. This review aims to summarize recent developments and key findings on the role of lncRNAs in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor A Thompson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Zeinab Chahine
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA.
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Kong X, Lu P, Zhang J, Bao Z, Kuang C, Xie B, Peng J, Ma N, Jiang Y, Yin S. Epigenetic regulation of SARS-Cov-2 spike protein modulates cellular viability and nascent RNA transcription in neuronal cells. Genes Dis 2023; 11:S2352-3042(23)00177-0. [PMID: 37362777 PMCID: PMC10166610 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Kong
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Peng Lu
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Jinyue Zhang
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Zheng Bao
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Chenghao Kuang
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Bingqing Xie
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Jianhua Peng
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Ning Ma
- Inflammation and Allergic Diseases Research Unit, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Shigang Yin
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
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Shaw PJ, Piriyapongsa J, Kaewprommal P, Wongsombat C, Chaosrikul C, Teeravajanadet K, Boonbangyang M, Uthaipibull C, Kamchonwongpaisan S, Tongsima S. Identifying transcript 5' capped ends in Plasmodium falciparum. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11983. [PMID: 34527439 PMCID: PMC8401752 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The genome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is poorly annotated, in particular, the 5' capped ends of its mRNA transcripts. New approaches are needed to fully catalog P. falciparum transcripts for understanding gene function and regulation in this organism. Methods We developed a transcriptomic method based on next-generation sequencing of complementary DNA (cDNA) enriched for full-length fragments using eIF4E, a 5' cap-binding protein, and an unenriched control. DNA sequencing adapter was added after enrichment of full-length cDNA using two different ligation protocols. From the mapped sequence reads, enrichment scores were calculated for all transcribed nucleotides and used to calculate P-values of 5' capped nucleotide enrichment. Sensitivity and accuracy were increased by combining P-values from replicate experiments. Data were obtained for P. falciparum ring, trophozoite and schizont stages of intra-erythrocytic development. Results 5' capped nucleotide signals were mapped to 17,961 non-overlapping P. falciparum genomic intervals. Analysis of the dominant 5' capped nucleotide in these genomic intervals revealed the presence of two groups with distinctive epigenetic features and sequence patterns. A total of 4,512 transcripts were annotated as 5' capped based on the correspondence of 5' end with 5' capped nucleotide annotated from full-length cDNA data. Discussion The presence of two groups of 5' capped nucleotides suggests that alternative mechanisms may exist for producing 5' capped transcript ends in P. falciparum. The 5' capped transcripts that are antisense, outside of, or partially overlapping coding regions may be important regulators of gene function in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Shaw
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Jittima Piriyapongsa
- National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Pavita Kaewprommal
- National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Chayaphat Wongsombat
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Chadapohn Chaosrikul
- National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Krirkwit Teeravajanadet
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Manon Boonbangyang
- National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Chairat Uthaipibull
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Sumalee Kamchonwongpaisan
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Sissades Tongsima
- National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, Thailand
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Peculiarities of Plasmodium falciparum Gene Regulation and Chromatin Structure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105168. [PMID: 34068393 PMCID: PMC8153576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly complex life cycle of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is based on an orchestrated and tightly regulated gene expression program. In general, eukaryotic transcription regulation is determined by a combination of sequence-specific transcription factors binding to regulatory DNA elements and the packaging of DNA into chromatin as an additional layer. The accessibility of regulatory DNA elements is controlled by the nucleosome occupancy and changes of their positions by an active process called nucleosome remodeling. These epigenetic mechanisms are poorly explored in P. falciparum. The parasite genome is characterized by an extraordinarily high AT-content and the distinct architecture of functional elements, and chromatin-related proteins also exhibit high sequence divergence compared to other eukaryotes. Together with the distinct biochemical properties of nucleosomes, these features suggest substantial differences in chromatin-dependent regulation. Here, we highlight the peculiarities of epigenetic mechanisms in P. falciparum, addressing chromatin structure and dynamics with respect to their impact on transcriptional control. We focus on the specialized chromatin remodeling enzymes and discuss their essential function in P. falciparum gene regulation.
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Zhao Y, Wang F, Wang C, Zhang X, Jiang C, Ding F, Shen L, Zhang Q. Optimization of CRISPR/Cas System for Improving Genome Editing Efficiency in Plasmodium falciparum. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:625862. [PMID: 33488567 PMCID: PMC7819880 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.625862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of molecular mechanisms and related gene functions have long been restricted by limited genome editing technologies in malaria parasites. Recently, a simple and effective genome editing technology, the CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated) system, has greatly facilitated these studies in many organisms, including malaria parasites. However, due to the special genome feature of malaria parasites, the manipulation and gene editing efficacy of the CRISPR/Cas system in this pathogen need to be improved, particularly in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Herein, based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we developed an integrating strategy to generate a Cas9i system, which significantly shortened the time for generation of transgenic strains in P. falciparum. Moreover, with this Cas9i system, we have successfully achieved multiplexed genome editing (mutating or tagging) by a single-round transfection in P. falciparum. In addition, we for the first time adapted AsCpf1 (Acidaminococcus sp. Cpf1), an alternative to Cas9, into P. falciparum parasites and examined it for gene editing. These optimizations of the CRISPR/Cas system will further facilitate the mechanistic research of malaria parasites and contribute to eliminating malaria in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuemeng Zhao
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Changhong Wang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaobai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cizhong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, The School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Li Shen
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingfeng Zhang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias of the Ministry of Education of China, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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