1
|
Zwahlen SM, Hayward JA, Maguire CS, Qin AR, van Dooren GG. A myzozoan-specific protein is an essential membrane-anchoring component of the succinate dehydrogenase complex in Toxoplasma parasites. Open Biol 2024; 14:230463. [PMID: 38835243 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230463] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a protein complex that functions in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport chain of mitochondria. In most eukaryotes, SDH is highly conserved and comprises the following four subunits: SdhA and SdhB form the catalytic core of the complex, while SdhC and SdhD anchor the complex in the membrane. Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that infects one-third of humans worldwide. The genome of T. gondii encodes homologues of the catalytic subunits SdhA and SdhB, although the physiological role of the SDH complex in the parasite and the identity of the membrane-anchoring subunits are poorly understood. Here, we show that the SDH complex contributes to optimal proliferation and O2 consumption in the disease-causing tachyzoite stage of the T. gondii life cycle. We characterize a small membrane-bound subunit of the SDH complex called mitochondrial protein ookinete developmental defect (MPODD), which is conserved among myzozoans, a phylogenetic grouping that incorporates apicomplexan parasites and their closest free-living relatives. We demonstrate that TgMPODD is essential for SDH activity and plays a key role in attaching the TgSdhA and TgSdhB proteins to the membrane anchor of the complex. Our findings highlight a unique and important feature of mitochondrial energy metabolism in apicomplexan parasites and their relatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soraya M Zwahlen
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Jenni A Hayward
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Capella S Maguire
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Alex R Qin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gao L, Yang W, Wang J. Implications of mosquito metabolism on vector competence. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:674-682. [PMID: 37907431 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) annually kill nearly half a million people. Due to the lack of effective vaccines and drugs on most MBDs, disease prevention relies primarily on controlling mosquitoes. Despite huge efforts having been put into mosquito control, eco-friendly and sustainable mosquito-control strategies are still lacking and urgently demanded. Most mosquito-transmitted pathogens have lost the capacity of de novo nutrition biosynthesis, and rely on their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts for sustenance during the long-term obligate parasitism process. Therefore, a better understanding of the metabolic interactions between mosquitoes and pathogens will contribute to the discovery of novel metabolic targets or regulators that lead to reduced mosquito populations or vector competence. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the effects of mosquito metabolism on the transmission of multiple pathogens. We also discuss that research in this area remains to be explored to develop multiple biological prevention and control strategies for MBDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Silva MF, Douglas K, Sandalli S, Maclean AE, Sheiner L. Functional and biochemical characterization of the Toxoplasma gondii succinate dehydrogenase complex. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011867. [PMID: 38079448 PMCID: PMC10735183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) is a series of membrane embedded enzymatic complexes critical for energy conversion and mitochondrial metabolism. In commonly studied eukaryotes, including humans and animals, complex II, also known as succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), is an essential four-subunit enzyme that acts as an entry point to the mETC, by harvesting electrons from the TCA cycle. Apicomplexa are pathogenic parasites with significant impact on human and animal health. The phylum includes Toxoplasma gondii which can cause fatal infections in immunocompromised people. Most apicomplexans, including Toxoplasma, rely on their mETC for survival, yet SDH remains largely understudied. Previous studies pointed to a divergent apicomplexan SDH with nine subunits proposed for the Toxoplasma complex, compared to four in humans. While two of the nine are homologs of the well-studied SDHA and B, the other seven have no homologs in SDHs of other systems. Moreover, SDHC and D, that anchor SDH to the membrane and participate in substrate bindings, have no homologs in Apicomplexa. Here, we validated five of the seven proposed subunits as bona fide SDH components and demonstrated their importance for SDH assembly and activity. We further find that all five subunits are important for parasite growth, and that disruption of SDH impairs mitochondrial respiration and results in spontaneous initiation of differentiation into bradyzoites. Finally, we provide evidence that the five subunits are membrane bound, consistent with their potential role in membrane anchoring, and we demonstrate that a DY motif in one of them, SDH10, is essential for complex formation and function. Our study confirms the divergent composition of Toxoplasma SDH compared to human, and starts exploring the role of the lineage-specific subunits in SDH function, paving the way for future mechanistic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana F. Silva
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kiera Douglas
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Sandalli
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew E. Maclean
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lilach Sheiner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hayward JA, Makota FV, Cihalova D, Leonard RA, Rajendran E, Zwahlen SM, Shuttleworth L, Wiedemann U, Spry C, Saliba KJ, Maier AG, van Dooren GG. A screen of drug-like molecules identifies chemically diverse electron transport chain inhibitors in apicomplexan parasites. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011517. [PMID: 37471441 PMCID: PMC10403144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are widespread parasites of humans and other animals, and include the causative agents of malaria (Plasmodium species) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii). Existing anti-apicomplexan therapies are beset with issues around drug resistance and toxicity, and new treatment options are needed. The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is one of the few processes that has been validated as a drug target in apicomplexans. To identify new inhibitors of the apicomplexan ETC, we developed a Seahorse XFe96 flux analyzer approach to screen the 400 compounds contained within the Medicines for Malaria Venture 'Pathogen Box' for ETC inhibition. We identified six chemically diverse, on-target inhibitors of the ETC in T. gondii, at least four of which also target the ETC of Plasmodium falciparum. Two of the identified compounds (MMV024937 and MMV688853) represent novel ETC inhibitor chemotypes. MMV688853 belongs to a compound class, the aminopyrazole carboxamides, that were shown previously to target a kinase with a key role in parasite invasion of host cells. Our data therefore reveal that MMV688853 has dual targets in apicomplexans. We further developed our approach to pinpoint the molecular targets of these inhibitors, demonstrating that all target Complex III of the ETC, with MMV688853 targeting the ubiquinone reduction (Qi) site of the complex. Most of the compounds we identified remain effective inhibitors of parasites that are resistant to Complex III inhibitors that are in clinical use or development, indicating that they could be used in treating drug resistant parasites. In sum, we have developed a versatile, scalable approach to screen for compounds that target the ETC in apicomplexan parasites, and used this to identify and characterize novel inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenni A. Hayward
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - F. Victor Makota
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Daniela Cihalova
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Rachel A. Leonard
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Esther Rajendran
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Soraya M. Zwahlen
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Laura Shuttleworth
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ursula Wiedemann
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Christina Spry
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Kevin J. Saliba
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alexander G. Maier
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Giel G. van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hidayati AR, Melinda, Ilmi H, Sakura T, Sakaguchi M, Ohmori J, Hartuti ED, Tumewu L, Inaoka DK, Tanjung M, Yoshida E, Tokumasu F, Kita K, Mori M, Dobashi K, Nozaki T, Syafruddin D, Hafid AF, Waluyo D, Widyawaruyanti A. Effect of geranylated dihydrochalcone from Artocarpus altilis leaves extract on Plasmodium falciparum ultrastructural changes and mitochondrial malate: Quinone oxidoreductase. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022; 21:40-50. [PMID: 36565667 PMCID: PMC9798170 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nearly half of the world's population is at risk of being infected by Plasmodium falciparum, the pathogen of malaria. Increasing resistance to common antimalarial drugs has encouraged investigations to find compounds with different scaffolds. Extracts of Artocarpus altilis leaves have previously been reported to exhibit in vitro antimalarial activity against P. falciparum and in vivo activity against P. berghei. Despite these initial promising results, the active compound from A. altilis is yet to be identified. Here, we have identified 2-geranyl-2', 4', 3, 4-tetrahydroxy-dihydrochalcone (1) from A. altilis leaves as the active constituent of its antimalarial activity. Since natural chalcones have been reported to inhibit food vacuole and mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), the morphological changes in food vacuole and biochemical inhibition of ETC enzymes of (1) were investigated. In the presence of (1), intraerythrocytic asexual development was impaired, and according to the TEM analysis, this clearly affected the ultrastructure of food vacuoles. Amongst the ETC enzymes, (1) inhibited the mitochondrial malate: quinone oxidoreductase (PfMQO), and no inhibition could be observed on dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) as well as bc1 complex activities. Our study suggests that (1) has a dual mechanism of action affecting the food vacuole and inhibition of PfMQO-related pathways in mitochondria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agriana Rosmalina Hidayati
- Doctoral Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia,Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Mataram, Mataram, Indonesia
| | - Melinda
- Research Center for Genetic Engineering, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Hilkatul Ilmi
- Center of Natural Product Medicine Research and Development, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Takaya Sakura
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Miako Sakaguchi
- Central Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Junko Ohmori
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Endah Dwi Hartuti
- Research Center for Genetic Engineering, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor, Indonesia,Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Lidya Tumewu
- Center of Natural Product Medicine Research and Development, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Mulyadi Tanjung
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Eri Yoshida
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Tokumasu
- Department of Cellular Architecture Studies, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan,Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Mihoko Mori
- Kitasato Institute for Life Science, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Dobashi
- Kitasato Institute for Life Science, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Din Syafruddin
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanudin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Achmad Fuad Hafid
- Center of Natural Product Medicine Research and Development, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Danang Waluyo
- Research Center for Genetic Engineering, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Aty Widyawaruyanti
- Center of Natural Product Medicine Research and Development, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia,Corresponding author. Center of Natural Product Medicine Research and Development, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Komatsuya K, Sakura T, Shiomi K, Ōmura S, Hikosaka K, Nozaki T, Kita K, Inaoka DK. Siccanin Is a Dual-Target Inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum Mitochondrial Complex II and Complex III. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070903. [PMID: 35890202 PMCID: PMC9319939 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum contains several mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) dehydrogenases shuttling electrons from the respective substrates to the ubiquinone pool, from which electrons are consecutively transferred to complex III, complex IV, and finally to the molecular oxygen. The antimalarial drug atovaquone inhibits complex III and validates this parasite’s ETC as an attractive target for chemotherapy. Among the ETC dehydrogenases from P. falciparum, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an essential enzyme used in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, and complex III are the two enzymes that have been characterized and validated as drug targets in the blood-stage parasite, while complex II has been shown to be essential for parasite survival in the mosquito stage; therefore, these enzymes and complex II are considered candidate drug targets for blocking parasite transmission. In this study, we identified siccanin as the first (to our knowledge) nanomolar inhibitor of the P. falciparum complex II. Moreover, we demonstrated that siccanin also inhibits complex III in the low-micromolar range. Siccanin did not inhibit the corresponding complexes from mammalian mitochondria even at high concentrations. Siccanin inhibited the growth of P. falciparum with IC50 of 8.4 μM. However, the growth inhibition of the P. falciparum blood stage did not correlate with ETC inhibition, as demonstrated by lack of resistance to siccanin in the yDHODH-3D7 (EC50 = 10.26 μM) and Dd2-ELQ300 strains (EC50 = 18.70 μM), suggesting a third mechanism of action that is unrelated to mitochondrial ETC inhibition. Hence, siccanin has at least a dual mechanism of action, being the first potent and selective inhibitor of P. falciparum complexes II and III over mammalian enzymes and so is a potential candidate for the development of a new class of antimalarial drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Komatsuya
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (K.K.); (T.N.)
- Laboratory of Biomembrane, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Takaya Sakura
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Kazuro Shiomi
- Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan;
| | - Satoshi Ōmura
- Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute, Kitasato University, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan;
| | - Kenji Hikosaka
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan;
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (K.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (K.K.); (T.N.)
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
- Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.K.); (D.K.I.); Tel.: +81-95-819-7575 (K.K.); +81-95-819-7230 (D.K.I.)
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (K.K.); (T.N.)
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.K.); (D.K.I.); Tel.: +81-95-819-7575 (K.K.); +81-95-819-7230 (D.K.I.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Paton DG, Probst AS, Ma E, Adams KL, Shaw WR, Singh N, Bopp S, Volkman SK, Hien DFS, Paré PSL, Yerbanga RS, Diabaté A, Dabiré RK, Lefèvre T, Wirth DF, Catteruccia F. Using an antimalarial in mosquitoes overcomes Anopheles and Plasmodium resistance to malaria control strategies. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010609. [PMID: 35687594 PMCID: PMC9223321 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes and drug resistance in Plasmodium parasites is contributing to a global resurgence of malaria, making the generation of control tools that can overcome these roadblocks an urgent public health priority. We recently showed that the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum parasites can be efficiently blocked when exposing Anopheles gambiae females to antimalarials deposited on a treated surface, with no negative consequences on major components of mosquito fitness. Here, we demonstrate this approach can overcome the hurdles of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes and drug resistant in parasites. We show that the transmission-blocking efficacy of mosquito-targeted antimalarials is maintained when field-derived, insecticide resistant Anopheles are exposed to the potent cytochrome b inhibitor atovaquone, demonstrating that this drug escapes insecticide resistance mechanisms that could potentially interfere with its function. Moreover, this approach prevents transmission of field-derived, artemisinin resistant P. falciparum parasites (Kelch13 C580Y mutant), proving that this strategy could be used to prevent the spread of parasite mutations that induce resistance to front-line antimalarials. Atovaquone is also highly effective at limiting parasite development when ingested by mosquitoes in sugar solutions, including in ongoing infections. These data support the use of mosquito-targeted antimalarials as a promising tool to complement and extend the efficacy of current malaria control interventions. Effective control of malaria is hampered by resistance to vector-targeted insecticides and parasite-targeted drugs. This situation is exacerbated by a critical lack of chemical diversity in both interventions and, as such, new interventions are urgently needed. Recent laboratory studies have shown that an alternative approach based on treating Anopheles mosquitoes directly with antimalarial compounds can make mosquitoes incapable of transmitting the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. While promising, showing that mosquito-targeted antimalarials remain effective against wild parasites and mosquitoes, including drug- and insecticide-resistant populations in malaria-endemic countries, is crucial to the future viability of this approach. In this study, carried out in the US and Burkina Faso, we show that insecticide-resistance mechanisms found in highly resistant, natural Anopheles mosquito populations do not interfere with the transmission blocking activity of tarsal exposure to the antimalarial atovaquone, and that mosquito-targeted antimalarial exposure can block transmission of parasites resistant to the main therapeutic antimalarial drug artemisinin. By combining lab, and field-based studies in this way we have demonstrated that this novel approach can be effective in areas where conventional control measures are no longer as effective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas G. Paton
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DGP); (FC)
| | - Alexandra S. Probst
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Erica Ma
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Kelsey L. Adams
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - W. Robert Shaw
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Naresh Singh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Selina Bopp
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Sarah K. Volkman
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Domombele F. S. Hien
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Prislaure S. L. Paré
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Rakiswendé S. Yerbanga
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Abdoullaye Diabaté
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Roch K. Dabiré
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Thierry Lefèvre
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Laboratoire mixte international sur les vecteurs (LAMIVECT), Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé (CREES), Montpellier, France
| | - Dyann F. Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DGP); (FC)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Consalvi S, Tammaro C, Appetecchia F, Biava M, Poce G. Malaria transmission blocking compounds: a patent review. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2022; 32:649-666. [PMID: 35240899 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2022.2049239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite substantial progress in the field, malaria remains a global health issue and currently available control strategies are not sufficient to achieve eradication. Agents able to prevent transmission are likely to have a strong impact on malaria control and have been prioritized as a primary objective to reduce the number of secondary infections. Therefore, there is an increased interest in finding novel drugs targeting sexual stages of Plasmodium and innovative methods to target malaria transmission from host to vector, and vice versa. AREAS COVERED This review covers innovative transmission-blocking inventions patented between 2015 and October 2021. The focus is on chemical interventions which could be used as "chemical vaccines" to prevent transmission (small molecules, carbohydrates, and polypeptides). EXPERT OPINION Even though the development of novel strategies to block transmission still requires fundamental additional research and a deeper understanding of parasite sexual stages biology, the research in this field has significantly accelerated. Among innovative inventions patented over the last six years, the surface-delivery of antimalarial drugs to kill transmission-stages parasites in mosquitoes holds the highest promise for success in malaria control strategies, opening completely new scenarios in malaria transmission-blocking drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Consalvi
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Tammaro
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Appetecchia
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Biava
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Poce
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Romero-Cordero S, Kirwan R, Noguera-Julian A, Cardellach F, Fortuny C, Morén C. A Mitocentric View of the Main Bacterial and Parasitic Infectious Diseases in the Pediatric Population. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3272. [PMID: 33806981 PMCID: PMC8004694 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases occur worldwide with great frequency in both adults and children. Both infections and their treatments trigger mitochondrial interactions at multiple levels: (i) incorporation of damaged or mutated proteins to the complexes of the electron transport chain, (ii) mitochondrial genome (depletion, deletions, and point mutations) and mitochondrial dynamics (fusion and fission), (iii) membrane potential, (iv) apoptotic regulation, (v) generation of reactive oxygen species, among others. Such alterations may result in serious adverse clinical events with great impact on children's quality of life, even resulting in death. As such, bacterial agents are frequently associated with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release, ultimately leading to mitochondrial apoptosis by activation of caspases-3 and -9. Using Rayyan QCRI software for systematic reviews, we explore the association between mitochondrial alterations and pediatric infections including (i) bacterial: M. tuberculosis, E. cloacae, P. mirabilis, E. coli, S. enterica, S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis and (ii) parasitic: P. falciparum. We analyze how these pediatric infections and their treatments may lead to mitochondrial deterioration in this especially vulnerable population, with the intention of improving both the understanding of these diseases and their management in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Romero-Cordero
- Faculty of Medicine, Pompeu Fabra University and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08002 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Richard Kirwan
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2QP, UK
| | - Antoni Noguera-Julian
- Malalties Infeccioses i Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Unitat d’Infeccions, Servei de Pediatria, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (A.N.-J.); (C.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Red de Investigación Translacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesc Cardellach
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- Muscle Research and Mitochondrial Function Laboratory, Cellex-IDIBAPS, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Internal Medicine Department-Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (HCB), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clàudia Fortuny
- Malalties Infeccioses i Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Unitat d’Infeccions, Servei de Pediatria, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (A.N.-J.); (C.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Red de Investigación Translacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Constanza Morén
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- Muscle Research and Mitochondrial Function Laboratory, Cellex-IDIBAPS, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Internal Medicine Department-Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (HCB), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mounkoro P, Michel T, Golinelli-Cohen MP, Blandin S, Davioud-Charvet E, Meunier B. A role for the succinate dehydrogenase in the mode of action of the redox-active antimalarial drug, plasmodione. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 162:533-541. [PMID: 33232753 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Malaria, caused by protozoan parasites, is a major public health issue in subtropical countries. An arsenal of antimalarial treatments is available, however, resistance is spreading, calling for the development of new antimalarial compounds. The new lead antimalarial drug plasmodione is a redox-active compound that impairs the redox balance of parasites leading to cell death. Based on extensive in vitro assays, a model of its mode of action was drawn, involving the generation of active plasmodione metabolites that act as subversive substrates of flavoproteins, initiating a redox cycling process producing reactive oxygen species. We showed that, in yeast, the mitochondrial respiratory chain NADH-dehydrogenases are the main redox-cycling target enzymes. Furthermore, our data supported the proposal that plasmodione is a pro-drug acting via its benzhydrol and benzoyl metabolites. Here, we selected plasmodione-resistant yeast mutants to further decipher plasmodione mode of action. Of the eleven mutants analysed, nine harboured a mutation in the FAD binding subunit of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). The analysis of the SDH mutations points towards a specific role for SDH-bound FAD in plasmodione bioactivation, possibly in the first step of the process, highlighting a novel property of SDH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Mounkoro
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, cedex, France
| | - Thomas Michel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, cedex, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Golinelli-Cohen
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles (ICSN), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, cedex, France
| | - Stéphanie Blandin
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, UPR9022/U1257, Mosquito Immune Responses (MIR), F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elisabeth Davioud-Charvet
- Université de Strasbourg, Université de Haute-Alsace, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 7042 LIMA, Team Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, ECPM, 25 Rue Becquerel, 67087, Strasbourg, France
| | - Brigitte Meunier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, cedex, France.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sato D, Hartuti ED, Inaoka DK, Sakura T, Amalia E, Nagahama M, Yoshioka Y, Tsuji N, Nozaki T, Kita K, Harada S, Matsubayashi M, Shiba T. Structural and Biochemical Features of Eimeria tenella Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase, a Potential Drug Target. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11121468. [PMID: 33297567 PMCID: PMC7762340 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a mitochondrial monotopic membrane protein that plays an essential role in the pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis and electron transport chain pathways. In Eimeria tenella, an intracellular apicomplexan parasite that causes the most severe form of chicken coccidiosis, the activity of pyrimidine salvage pathway at the intracellular stage is negligible and it relies on the pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis pathway. Therefore, the enzymes of the de novo pathway are considered potential drug target candidates for the design of compounds with activity against this parasite. Although, DHODHs from E. tenella (EtDHODH), Plasmodium falciparum (PfDHODH), and human (HsDHODH) show distinct sensitivities to classical DHODH inhibitors, in this paper, we identify ferulenol as a potent inhibitor of both EtDHODH and HsDHODH. Additionally, we report the crystal structures of EtDHODH and HsDHODH in the absence and presence of ferulenol. Comparison of these enzymes showed that despite similar overall structures, the EtDHODH has a long insertion in the N-terminal helix region that assumes a disordered configuration. In addition, the crystal structures revealed that the ferulenol binding pocket of EtDHODH is larger than that of HsDHODH. These differences can be explored to accelerate structure-based design of inhibitors specifically targeting EtDHODH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Sato
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (D.S.); (M.N.); (Y.Y.); (S.H.)
| | - Endah Dwi Hartuti
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (E.A.); (T.N.)
- Correspondence: (D.K.I.); (T.S.); Tel.: +81-95-819-7230 (D.K.I.); Tel./Fax: +81-75-724-7541 (T.S.)
| | - Takaya Sakura
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
| | - Eri Amalia
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (E.A.); (T.N.)
| | - Madoka Nagahama
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (D.S.); (M.N.); (Y.Y.); (S.H.)
| | - Yukina Yoshioka
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (D.S.); (M.N.); (Y.Y.); (S.H.)
| | - Naotoshi Tsuji
- Department of Parasitology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan;
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (E.A.); (T.N.)
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; (E.A.); (T.N.)
- Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Shigeharu Harada
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (D.S.); (M.N.); (Y.Y.); (S.H.)
| | - Makoto Matsubayashi
- Division of Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku Orai Kita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan;
| | - Tomoo Shiba
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (D.S.); (M.N.); (Y.Y.); (S.H.)
- Correspondence: (D.K.I.); (T.S.); Tel.: +81-95-819-7230 (D.K.I.); Tel./Fax: +81-75-724-7541 (T.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kita K. [Development of Medicines for Infectious Diseases -Malaria]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2020; 140:887-894. [PMID: 32612051 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.19-00255-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In developed countries, it is said that "threats of infectious diseases are already thought as things of the past". However, as you can see in the case of Ebola hemorrhagic fever that occurred in West Africa, this is a big mistake. Among infectious diseases, only smallpox has been successfully eradicated worldwide. In addition to the three major infectious diseases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, there is another group called emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. Recently, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have been listed as threats by the WHO, as have drug-resistant bacteria. The spread of these pathogens is increasing due to an increase in global travel. Malaria and more than half of the NTDs are parasitic diseases, such as trypanosomiasis and soil-borne helminthiasis. These are caused by parasites, with eukaryotes similar to their host mammals. In the case of these NTDs, protective immune responses induced by differences between a pathogen and host do not work well, and there is no vaccine against parasites. As for drugs developed to treat these diseases, because the properties of enzymes and target receptors are very similar, and effective drugs simultaneously show efficacy against both the disease and the host, severe side effects often occur. Therefore, the search for targets specifically present in parasites, and screening for drugs that inhibit their physiological functions, is extremely important. Here, as an example of the development of antiparasitic drugs, I will introduce a study on malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Kita
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Improvement of CRISPR/Cas9 system by transfecting Cas9-expressing Plasmodium berghei with linear donor template. Commun Biol 2020; 3:426. [PMID: 32759952 PMCID: PMC7406498 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01138-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites and is a major public health concern. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a promising technology, but still has technical problems, such as low efficiency and unexpected recombination. Here, we solved these problems by transfecting Cas9-expressing parasites with linear donor templates. The use of a linear donor template prevented unexpected recombination; in addition, constitutive expression of Cas9 enabled immediate cleavage of the target locus after transfection, allowing efficient integration of the donor template. Furthermore, due to the absence of the cNHEJ pathway, there were no off-target mutations in the resultant parasites. In addition, this developed method could be applied for multiple genetic modifications on different chromosomes and for large-scale chromosomal deletion in the subtelomeric region. Because of its robustness, high efficiency, and versatile applicability, we hope this method will be standard in the post-genomic era of Plasmodium species.
Collapse
|
14
|
Kloehn J, Harding CR, Soldati-Favre D. Supply and demand-heme synthesis, salvage and utilization by Apicomplexa. FEBS J 2020; 288:382-404. [PMID: 32530125 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The Apicomplexa phylum groups important human and animal pathogens that cause severe diseases, encompassing malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. In common with most organisms, apicomplexans rely on heme as cofactor for several enzymes, including cytochromes of the electron transport chain. This heme derives from de novo synthesis and/or the development of uptake mechanisms to scavenge heme from their host. Recent studies have revealed that heme synthesis is essential for Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites, as well as for the mosquito and liver stages of Plasmodium spp. In contrast, the erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasites rely on scavenging heme from the host red blood cell. The unusual heme synthesis pathway in Apicomplexa spans three cellular compartments and comprises enzymes of distinct ancestral origin, providing promising drug targets. Remarkably given the requirement for heme, T. gondii can tolerate the loss of several heme synthesis enzymes at a high fitness cost, while the ferrochelatase is essential for survival. These findings indicate that T. gondii is capable of salvaging heme precursors from its host. Furthermore, heme is implicated in the activation of the key antimalarial drug artemisinin. Recent findings established that a reduction in heme availability corresponds to decreased sensitivity to artemisinin in T. gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, providing insights into the possible development of combination therapies to tackle apicomplexan parasites. This review describes the microeconomics of heme in Apicomplexa, from supply, either from de novo synthesis or scavenging, to demand by metabolic pathways, including the electron transport chain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clare R Harding
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Evolutionary ecology, taxonomy, and systematics of avian malaria and related parasites. Acta Trop 2020; 204:105364. [PMID: 32007445 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, and Haemoproteus are one of the most prevalent and widely studied groups of parasites infecting birds. Plasmodium is the most well-known haemosporidian as the avian parasite Plasmodium relictum was the original transmission model for human malaria and was also responsible for catastrophic effects on native avifauna when introduced to Hawaii. The past two decades have seen a dramatic increase in research on avian haemosporidian parasites as a model system to understand evolutionary and ecological parasite-host relationships. Despite haemosporidians being one the best studied groups of avian parasites their specialization among avian hosts and variation in prevalence amongst regions and host taxa are not fully understood. In this review we focus on describing the current phylogenetic and morphological diversity of haemosporidian parasites, their specificity among avian and vector hosts, and identifying the determinants of haemosporidian prevalence among avian species. We also discuss how these parasites might spread across regions due to global climate change and the importance of avian migratory behavior in parasite dispersion and subsequent diversification.
Collapse
|
16
|
Aguiar AC, de Sousa LR, Garcia CR, Oliva G, Guido RV. New Molecular Targets and Strategies for Antimalarial Discovery. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:4380-4402. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170830103003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains a major health problem, especially because of the emergence
of resistant P. falciparum strains to artemisinin derivatives. In this context, safe and affordable
antimalarial drugs are desperately needed. New proteins have been investigated
as molecular targets for research and development of innovative compounds with welldefined
mechanism of action. In this review, we highlight genetically and clinically validated
plasmodial proteins as drug targets for the next generation of therapeutics. The enzymes
described herein are involved in hemoglobin hydrolysis, the invasion process,
elongation factors for protein synthesis, pyrimidine biosynthesis, post-translational modifications
such as prenylation, phosphorylation and histone acetylation, generation of ATP
in mitochondrial metabolism and aminoacylation of RNAs. Significant advances on proteomics,
genetics, structural biology, computational and biophysical methods provided
invaluable molecular and structural information about these drug targets. Based on this,
several strategies and models have been applied to identify and improve lead compounds.
This review presents the recent progresses in the discovery of antimalarial drug candidates,
highlighting the approaches, challenges, and perspectives to deliver affordable, safe
and low single-dose medicines to treat malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Caroline Aguiar
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Lorena R.F. de Sousa
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Celia R.S. Garcia
- Physiology Department, Bioscience Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael V.C. Guido
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, PO Box 369, 13560-970, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Matz JM, Goosmann C, Matuschewski K, Kooij TWA. An Unusual Prohibitin Regulates Malaria Parasite Mitochondrial Membrane Potential. Cell Rep 2019; 23:756-767. [PMID: 29669282 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.03.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins of the stomatin/prohibitin/flotillin/HfIK/C (SPFH) family are membrane-anchored and perform diverse cellular functions in different organelles. Here, we investigate the SPFH proteins of the murine malaria model parasite Plasmodium berghei, the conserved prohibitin 1, prohibitin 2, and stomatin-like protein and an unusual prohibitin-like protein (PHBL). The SPFH proteins localize to the parasite mitochondrion. While the conserved family members could not be deleted from the Plasmodium genome, PHBL was successfully ablated, resulting in impaired parasite fitness and attenuated virulence in the mammalian host. Strikingly, PHBL-deficient parasites fail to colonize the Anopheles vector because of complete arrest during ookinete development in vivo. We show that this arrest correlates with depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨmt). Our results underline the importance of SPFH proteins in the regulation of core mitochondrial functions and suggest that fine-tuning of ΔΨmt in malarial parasites is critical for colonization of the definitive host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Michael Matz
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Christian Goosmann
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Taco Wilhelmus Antonius Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics and Radboud Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Same same, but different: Uncovering unique features of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of apicomplexans. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 232:111204. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.111204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
|
19
|
Chagas CRF, Bukauskaitė D, Ilgūnas M, Bernotienė R, Iezhova T, Valkiūnas G. Sporogony of four Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae), with report of in vitro ookinetes of Haemoproteus hirundinis: phylogenetic inference indicates patterns of haemosporidian parasite ookinete development. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:422. [PMID: 31462309 PMCID: PMC6714444 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) species (Haemoproteidae) are widespread blood parasites that can cause disease in birds, but information about their vector species, sporogonic development and transmission remain fragmentary. This study aimed to investigate the complete sporogonic development of four Haemoproteus species in Culicoides nubeculosus and to test if phylogenies based on the cytochrome b gene (cytb) reflect patterns of ookinete development in haemosporidian parasites. Additionally, one cytb lineage of Haemoproteus was identified to the species level and the in vitro gametogenesis and ookinete development of Haemoproteus hirundinis was characterised. METHODS Laboratory-reared C. nubeculosus were exposed by allowing them to take blood meals on naturally infected birds harbouring single infections of Haemoproteus belopolskyi (cytb lineage hHIICT1), Haemoproteus hirundinis (hDELURB2), Haemoproteus nucleocondensus (hGRW01) and Haemoproteus lanii (hRB1). Infected insects were dissected at intervals in order to detect sporogonic stages. In vitro exflagellation, gametogenesis and ookinete development of H. hirundinis were also investigated. Microscopic examination and PCR-based methods were used to confirm species identity. Bayesian phylogenetic inference was applied to study the relationships among Haemoproteus lineages. RESULTS All studied parasites completed sporogony in C. nubeculosus. Ookinetes and sporozoites were found and described. Development of H. hirundinis ookinetes was similar both in vivo and in vitro. Developing ookinetes of this parasite possess long outgrowths, which extend longitudinally and produce the apical end of the ookinetes. A large group of closely related Haemoproteus species with a similar mode of ookinete development was determined. Bayesian analysis indicates that this character has phylogenetic value. The species identity of cytb lineage hDELURB2 was determined: it belongs to H. hirundinis. CONCLUSIONS Culicoides nubeculosus is susceptible to and is a likely natural vector of numerous species of Haemoproteus parasites, thus worth attention in haemoproteosis epidemiology research. Data about in vitro development of haemoproteids provide valuable information about the rate of ookinete maturation and are recommended to use as helpful step during vector studies of haemosporidian parasites, particularly because they guide proper dissection interval of infected insects for ookinete detection during in vivo experiments. Additionally, in vitro studies readily identified patterns of morphological ookinete transformations, the characters of which are of phylogenetic value in haemosporidian parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dovilė Bukauskaitė
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mikas Ilgūnas
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Bernotienė
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Tatjana Iezhova
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gediminas Valkiūnas
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Tougan T, Takahashi K, Ikegami-Kawai M, Horiuchi M, Mori S, Hosoi M, Horii T, Ihara M, Tsubuki M. In vitro and in vivo characterization of anti-malarial acylphenoxazine derivatives prepared from basic blue 3. Malar J 2019; 18:237. [PMID: 31307493 PMCID: PMC6631887 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2873-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Basic blue 3 is a promising anti-malarial lead compound based on the π-delocalized lipophilic cation hypothesis. Its derivatives with nitrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms at the 3- and 7-positions on the phenoxazine ring were previously shown to exert potent antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, and Leishmania donovani parasites in vitro. However, compounds with nitrogen modification at the 10-position on the phenoxazine ring were not evaluated. Methods Six acylphenoxazine derivatives (ITT-001 to 006) with nitrogen modification at the 10-position on the phenoxazine ring, which were synthesized from basic blue 3, were characterized and evaluated for anti-malarial activity in vitro with an automated haematology analyzer (XN-30) and light microscopy. Intensity of self-fluorescence was measured using a fluorometer. Localization of basic blue 3 was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using human cell lines, HEK293T and HepG2 cells. Finally, anti-malarial activity was evaluated in a rodent malaria model. Results All the six derivatives showed anti-malarial efficacy even against chloroquine-, pyrimethamine-, and artemisinin-resistant field isolates similar to the sensitive strains and isolates in vitro. The efficacy of basic blue 3 was the strongest, followed by that of ITT-001 to 004 and 006, while that of ITT-005 was the weakest. Basic blue 3 showed strong self-fluorescence, whereas ITT derivatives had five- to tenfold lower intensity than that of basic blue 3, which was shown by fluorescence microscopy to be selectively accumulated in the plasmodial cytoplasm. In contrast, ITT-003, 004, and 006 exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity in HEK293T and HepG2 cells in vitro and the highest selectivity between anti-malarial activity and cytotoxicity. The in vivo anti-malarial assay indicated that oral administration of ITT-004 was the most effective against the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain. Conclusions The six ITT derivatives were effective against chloroquine- and pyrimethamine-resistant strains and artemisinin-resistant field isolates as well as the sensitive ones. Among them, ITT-004, which had high anti-malarial activity and low cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo, is a promising anti-malarial lead compound. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-019-2873-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Tougan
- Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Kazunori Takahashi
- Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Mayumi Ikegami-Kawai
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Masako Horiuchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Shiho Mori
- Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Maiko Hosoi
- Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Horii
- Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masataka Ihara
- Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Tsubuki
- Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Wang X, Miyazaki Y, Inaoka DK, Hartuti ED, Watanabe YI, Shiba T, Harada S, Saimoto H, Burrows JN, Benito FJG, Nozaki T, Kita K. Identification of Plasmodium falciparum Mitochondrial Malate: Quinone Oxidoreductase Inhibitors from the Pathogen Box. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10060471. [PMID: 31234346 PMCID: PMC6627850 DOI: 10.3390/genes10060471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the three major global health threats. Drug development for malaria, especially for its most dangerous form caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains an urgent task due to the emerging drug-resistant parasites. Exploration of novel antimalarial drug targets identified a trifunctional enzyme, malate quinone oxidoreductase (MQO), located in the mitochondrial inner membrane of P. falciparum (PfMQO). PfMQO is involved in the pathways of mitochondrial electron transport chain, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fumarate cycle. Recent studies have shown that MQO is essential for P. falciparum survival in asexual stage and for the development of experiment cerebral malaria in the murine parasite P. berghei, providing genetic validation of MQO as a drug target. However, chemical validation of MQO, as a target, remains unexplored. In this study, we used active recombinant protein rPfMQO overexpressed in bacterial membrane fractions to screen a total of 400 compounds from the Pathogen Box, released by Medicines for Malaria Venture. The screening identified seven hit compounds targeting rPfMQO with an IC50 of under 5 μM. We tested the activity of hit compounds against the growth of 3D7 wildtype strain of P. falciparum, among which four compounds showed an IC50 from low to sub-micromolar concentrations, suggesting that PfMQO is indeed a potential antimalarial drug target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinying Wang
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Yukiko Miyazaki
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Endah Dwi Hartuti
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Yoh-Ichi Watanabe
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Tomoo Shiba
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Hashikamicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
| | - Shigeharu Harada
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Hashikamicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Saimoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami, Tottori 680-8550, Japan.
| | | | | | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
- Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Skinner-Adams TS, Fisher GM, Riches AG, Hutt OE, Jarvis KE, Wilson T, von Itzstein M, Chopra P, Antonova-Koch Y, Meister S, Winzeler EA, Clarke M, Fidock DA, Burrows JN, Ryan JH, Andrews KT. Cyclization-blocked proguanil as a strategy to improve the antimalarial activity of atovaquone. Commun Biol 2019; 2:166. [PMID: 31069275 PMCID: PMC6499835 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0397-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®) is used for malaria prophylaxis and treatment. While the cytochrome bc1-inhibitor atovaquone has potent activity, proguanil's action is attributed to its cyclization-metabolite, cycloguanil. Evidence suggests that proguanil has limited intrinsic activity, associated with mitochondrial-function. Here we demonstrate that proguanil, and cyclization-blocked analogue tBuPG, have potent, but slow-acting, in vitro anti-plasmodial activity. Activity is folate-metabolism and isoprenoid biosynthesis-independent. In yeast dihydroorotate dehydrogenase-expressing parasites, proguanil and tBuPG slow-action remains, while bc1-inhibitor activity switches from comparatively fast to slow-acting. Like proguanil, tBuPG has activity against P. berghei liver-stage parasites. Both analogues act synergistically with bc1-inhibitors against blood-stages in vitro, however cycloguanil antagonizes activity. Together, these data suggest that proguanil is a potent slow-acting anti-plasmodial agent, that bc1 is essential to parasite survival independent of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase-activity, that Malarone® is a triple-drug combination that includes antagonistic partners and that a cyclization-blocked proguanil may be a superior combination partner for bc1-inhibitors in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina S. Skinner-Adams
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111 Australia
| | - Gillian M. Fisher
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111 Australia
| | - Andrew G. Riches
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Biomedical Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC 3168 Australia
| | - Oliver E. Hutt
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Biomedical Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC 3168 Australia
| | - Karen E. Jarvis
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Biomedical Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC 3168 Australia
| | - Tony Wilson
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Biomedical Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC 3168 Australia
| | - Mark von Itzstein
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD 4222 Australia
| | - Pradeep Chopra
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD 4222 Australia
| | - Yevgeniya Antonova-Koch
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
- Present Address: California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
| | - Stephan Meister
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
- Present Address: Beckman Coulter Life Sciences in Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46268 USA
| | | | - Mary Clarke
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111 Australia
| | - David A. Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Jeremy N. Burrows
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Route de Pré Bois 20, Geneva, 1215 Switzerland
| | - John H. Ryan
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Biomedical Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC 3168 Australia
| | - Katherine T. Andrews
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ke H, Ganesan SM, Dass S, Morrisey JM, Pou S, Nilsen A, Riscoe MK, Mather MW, Vaidya AB. Mitochondrial type II NADH dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum (PfNDH2) is dispensable in the asexual blood stages. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214023. [PMID: 30964863 PMCID: PMC6456166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The battle against malaria has been substantially impeded by the recurrence of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest human malaria parasite. To counter the problem, novel antimalarial drugs are urgently needed, especially those that target unique pathways of the parasite, since they are less likely to have side effects. The mitochondrial type II NADH dehydrogenase (NDH2) of P. falciparum, PfNDH2 (PF3D7_0915000), has been considered a good prospective antimalarial drug target for over a decade, since malaria parasites lack the conventional multi-subunit NADH dehydrogenase, or Complex I, present in the mammalian mitochondrial electron transport chain (mtETC). Instead, Plasmodium parasites contain a single subunit NDH2, which lacks proton pumping activity and is absent in humans. A significant amount of effort has been expended to develop PfNDH2 specific inhibitors, yet the essentiality of PfNDH2 has not been convincingly verified. Herein, we knocked out PfNDH2 in P. falciparum via a CRISPR/Cas9 mediated approach. Deletion of PfNDH2 does not alter the parasite’s susceptibility to multiple mtETC inhibitors, including atovaquone and ELQ-300. We also show that the antimalarial activity of the fungal NDH2 inhibitor HDQ and its new derivative CK-2-68 is due to inhibition of the parasite cytochrome bc1 complex rather than PfNDH2. These compounds directly inhibit the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase activity of the malarial bc1 complex. Our results suggest that PfNDH2 is not likely a good antimalarial drug target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hangjun Ke
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Suresh M. Ganesan
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Swati Dass
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joanne M. Morrisey
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sovitj Pou
- Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael K. Riscoe
- Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael W. Mather
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Akhil B. Vaidya
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Exposing Anopheles mosquitoes to antimalarials blocks Plasmodium parasite transmission. Nature 2019; 567:239-243. [PMID: 30814727 PMCID: PMC6438179 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-0973-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Every year the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes kill
hundreds of thousands of people, mostly young African children, by transmitting
deadly Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites. Since the turn
of the century, efforts to prevent transmission of these parasites via the mass
distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets have been extremely successful,
causing an unprecedented reduction in malaria deaths1. However, resistance to insecticides has
become widespread in Anopheles populations2–4, threatening a global resurgence of the disease and making
the generation of effective new malaria control tools an urgent public health
priority. Here, we show that development of P. falciparum can
be rapidly and completely blocked when Anopheles gambiae
females uptake low concentrations of specific antimalarials from treated
surfaces, simulating contact with a bed net. Mosquito exposure to atovaquone
prior to or shortly after P. falciparum infection causes full
parasite arrest in the female midgut, preventing transmission of infection.
Similar transmission-blocking effects are achieved with other cytochrome B
inhibitors, demonstrating that parasite mitochondrial function is a good target
for parasite killing. Incorporating these effects into a model of malaria
transmission dynamics predicts that the inclusion of Plasmodium
inhibitors on mosquito nets would significantly mitigate the global health
impact of insecticide resistance. This study identifies a powerful new strategy
for blocking Plasmodium transmission by
Anopheles females, with promising implications for malaria
eradication efforts.
Collapse
|
25
|
Pacheco MA, Matta NE, Valkiunas G, Parker PG, Mello B, Stanley CE, Lentino M, Garcia-Amado MA, Cranfield M, Kosakovsky Pond SL, Escalante AA. Mode and Rate of Evolution of Haemosporidian Mitochondrial Genomes: Timing the Radiation of Avian Parasites. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:383-403. [PMID: 29126122 PMCID: PMC5850713 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Haemosporidians are a diverse group of vector-borne parasitic protozoa that includes the agents of human malaria; however, most of the described species are found in birds and reptiles. Although our understanding of these parasites’ diversity has expanded by analyses of their mitochondrial genes, there is limited information on these genes’ evolutionary rates. Here, 114 mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) were studied from species belonging to four genera: Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Hepatocystis, and Plasmodium. Contrary to previous assertions, the mtDNA is phylogenetically informative. The inferred phylogeny showed that, like the genus Plasmodium, the Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus genera are not monophyletic groups. Although sensitive to the assumptions of the molecular dating method used, the estimated times indicate that the diversification of the avian haemosporidian subgenera/genera took place after the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary following the radiation of modern birds. Furthermore, parasite clade differences in mtDNA substitution rates and strength of negative selection were detected. These differences may affect the biological interpretation of mtDNA gene lineages used as a proxy to species in ecological and parasitological investigations. Given that the mitochondria are critically important in the parasite life cycle stages that take place in the vector and that the transmission of parasites belonging to particular clades has been linked to specific insect families/subfamilies, this study suggests that differences in vectors have affected the mode of evolution of haemosporidian mtDNA genes. The observed patterns also suggest that the radiation of haemosporidian parasites may be the result of community-level evolutionary processes between their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Andreína Pacheco
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigación Caracterización Genética e Inmunología, Sede Bogotá-Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Patricia G Parker
- Department of Biology, Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Beatriz Mello
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Craig E Stanley
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Maria Alexandra Garcia-Amado
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Gastrointestinal, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Miranda, Venezuela
| | - Michael Cranfield
- Gorilla Doctors, the Wildlife Health Center School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA
| | - Sergei L Kosakovsky Pond
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ananias A Escalante
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Novel Characteristics of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain from Eimeria tenella. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10010029. [PMID: 30626105 PMCID: PMC6356742 DOI: 10.3390/genes10010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Eimeria tenella is an intracellular apicomplexan parasite, which infects cecal epithelial cells from chickens and causes hemorrhagic diarrhea and eventual death. We have previously reported the comparative RNA sequence analysis of the E. tenella sporozoite stage between virulent and precocious strains and showed that the expression of several genes involved in mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), such as type II NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2), complex II (succinate:quinone oxidoreductase), malate:quinone oxidoreductase (MQO), and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), were upregulated in virulent strain. To study E. tenella mitochondrial ETC in detail, we developed a reproducible method for preparation of mitochondria-rich fraction from sporozoites, which maintained high specific activities of dehydrogenases, such as NDH-2 followed by G3PDH, MQO, complex II, and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH). Of particular importance, we showed that E. tenella sporozoite mitochondria possess an intrinsic ability to perform fumarate respiration (via complex II) in addition to the classical oxygen respiration (via complexes III and IV). Further analysis by high-resolution clear native electrophoresis, activity staining, and nano-liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS) provided evidence of a mitochondrial complex II-III-IV supercomplex. Our analysis suggests that complex II from E. tenella has biochemical features distinct to known orthologues and is a potential target for the development of new anticoccidian drugs.
Collapse
|
27
|
High susceptibility of the laboratory-reared biting midges Culicoides nubeculosus to Haemoproteus infections, with review on Culicoides species that transmit avian haemoproteids. Parasitology 2018; 146:333-341. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018001373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
AbstractHaemosporidian parasites belonging to Haemoproteus cause avian diseases, however, vectors remain unidentified for the majority of described species. We used the laboratory-reared biting midges Culicoides nubeculosus to determine if the sporogonic development of three widespread Haemoproteus parasites completes in this insect. The midges were reared and fed on one common blackbird, white wagtail and thrush nightingale naturally infected with Haemoproteus minutus, Haemoproteus motacillae and Haemoproteus attenuatus, respectively. The engorged females were dissected in order to follow their sporogonic development. Microscopic examination was used to identify sporogonic stages. Bayesian phylogeny based on partial cytochrome b gene was constructed in order to determine phylogenetic relationships among Culicoides species-transmitted haemoproteids. All three parasites completed sporogony. Phylogenetic analysis placed Culicoides species transmitted haemoproteids in one well-supported clade, proving that such analysis readily indicates groups of dipteran insects transmitting avian haemoproteids. Available data show that 11 species of Culicoides have been proved to support complete sporogony of 18 species of avian haemoproteids. The majority of Culicoides species can act as vectors for many Haemoproteus parasites, indicating the low specificity of these parasites to biting midges, whose are globally distributed. This calls for control of haemoproteid infections during geographical translocation of infected birds.
Collapse
|
28
|
Costa G, Gildenhard M, Eldering M, Lindquist RL, Hauser AE, Sauerwein R, Goosmann C, Brinkmann V, Carrillo-Bustamante P, Levashina EA. Non-competitive resource exploitation within mosquito shapes within-host malaria infectivity and virulence. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3474. [PMID: 30150763 PMCID: PMC6110728 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05893-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a fatal human parasitic disease transmitted by a mosquito vector. Although the evolution of within-host malaria virulence has been the focus of many theoretical and empirical studies, the vector’s contribution to this process is not well understood. Here, we explore how within-vector resource exploitation would impact the evolution of within-host Plasmodium virulence. By combining within-vector dynamics and malaria epidemiology, we develop a mathematical model, which predicts that non-competitive parasitic resource exploitation within-vector restricts within-host parasite virulence. To validate our model, we experimentally manipulate mosquito lipid trafficking and gauge within-vector parasite development and within-host infectivity and virulence. We find that mosquito-derived lipids determine within-host parasite virulence by shaping development (quantity) and metabolic activity (quality) of transmissible sporozoites. Our findings uncover the potential impact of within-vector environment and vector control strategies on the evolution of malaria virulence. The evolution of within-host malaria virulence has been studied, but the vector’s contribution isn’t well understood. Here, Costa et al. show that non-competitive parasitic resource exploitation within-vector, in particular lipid trafficking, restricts within-host infectivity and virulence of the parasite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Costa
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Gildenhard
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Eldering
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - R L Lindquist
- Immunodynamics, German Rheumatism Research Centre (DRFZ), 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - A E Hauser
- Immunodynamics, German Rheumatism Research Centre (DRFZ), 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Immune Dynamics and Intravital Microscopy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - R Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - C Goosmann
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - V Brinkmann
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - P Carrillo-Bustamante
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - E A Levashina
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gomez-Lorenzo MG, Rodríguez-Alejandre A, Moliner-Cubel S, Martínez-Hoyos M, Bahamontes-Rosa N, Gonzalez Del Rio R, Ródenas C, Fuente JDL, Lavandera JL, García-Bustos JF, Mendoza-Losana A. Functional screening of selective mitochondrial inhibitors of Plasmodium. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2018; 8:295-303. [PMID: 29775797 PMCID: PMC6039321 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic screening has produced most of the new chemical entities currently in clinical development for malaria, plus many lead compounds active against Plasmodium falciparum asexual stages. However, lack of knowledge about the mode of action of these compounds delays and may even hamper their future development. Identifying the mode of action of the inhibitors greatly helps to prioritise compounds for further development as novel antimalarials. Here we describe a whole-cell method to detect inhibitors of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, using oxygen consumption as high throughput readout in 384-well plate format. The usefulness of the method has been confirmed with the Tres Cantos Antimalarial Compound Set (TCAMS). The assay identified 124 respiratory inhibitors in TCAMS, seven of which were novel anti-plasmodial chemical structures never before described as mitochondrial inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Gomez-Lorenzo
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ane Rodríguez-Alejandre
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Moliner-Cubel
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Hoyos
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemí Bahamontes-Rosa
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rubén Gonzalez Del Rio
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Ródenas
- Centro de Investigación Básica (CIB) GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús de la Fuente
- Centro de Investigación Básica (CIB) GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Lavandera
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain; Department of Basic Medical Science, CEU San Pablo University, Julián Romea 23, 28003, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose F García-Bustos
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain; Department of Microbiology and Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, 3800, VIC, Australia
| | - Alfonso Mendoza-Losana
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ghosh S, Pathak S, Sonawat HM, Sharma S, Sengupta A. Metabolomic changes in vertebrate host during malaria disease progression. Cytokine 2018; 112:32-43. [PMID: 30057363 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2018.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Metabolomics refers to top-down systems biological analysis of metabolites in biological specimens. Phenotypic proximity of metabolites makes them interesting candidates for studying biomarkers of environmental stressors such as parasitic infections. Moreover, the host-parasite interaction directly impinges upon metabolic pathways since the parasite uses the host metabolite pool as a biosynthetic resource. Malarial infection, although not recognized as a classic metabolic disorder, often leads to severe metabolic changes such as hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis. Thus, metabolomic analysis of the infection has become an invaluable tool for promoting a better understanding of the host-parasite interaction and for the development of novel therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge obtained from metabolomic studies of malarial infection in rodent models and human patients. Metabolomic analysis of experimental rodent malaria has provided significant insights into the mechanisms of disease progression including utilization of host resources by the parasite, sexual dimorphism in metabolic phenotypes, and cellular changes in host metabolism. Moreover, these studies also provide proof of concept for prediction of cerebral malaria. On the other hand, metabolite analysis of patient biofluids generates extensive data that could be of use in identifying biomarkers of infection severity and in monitoring disease progression. Through the use of metabolomic datasets one hopes to assess crucial infection-specific issues such as clinical severity, drug resistance, therapeutic targets, and biomarkers. Also discussed are nascent or newly emerging areas of metabolomics such as pre-erythrocytic stages of the infection and the host immune response. This review is organized in four broad sections-methodologies for metabolomic analysis, rodent infection models, studies of human clinical specimens, and potential of immunometabolomics. Data summarized in this review should serve as a springboard for novel hypothesis testing and lead to a better understanding of malarial infection and parasite biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soumita Ghosh
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Sulabha Pathak
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Haripalsingh M Sonawat
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Shobhona Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Arjun Sengupta
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Hartuti ED, Inaoka DK, Komatsuya K, Miyazaki Y, Miller RJ, Xinying W, Sadikin M, Prabandari EE, Waluyo D, Kuroda M, Amalia E, Matsuo Y, Nugroho NB, Saimoto H, Pramisandi A, Watanabe YI, Mori M, Shiomi K, Balogun EO, Shiba T, Harada S, Nozaki T, Kita K. Biochemical studies of membrane bound Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial L-malate:quinone oxidoreductase, a potential drug target. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2017; 1859:191-200. [PMID: 29269266 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is an apicomplexan parasite that causes the most severe malaria in humans. Due to a lack of effective vaccines and emerging of drug resistance parasites, development of drugs with novel mechanisms of action and few side effects are imperative. To this end, ideal drug targets are those essential to parasite viability as well as absent in their mammalian hosts. The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) of P. falciparum is one source of such potential targets because enzymes, such as L-malate:quinone oxidoreductase (PfMQO), in this pathway are absent humans. PfMQO catalyzes the oxidation of L-malate to oxaloacetate and the simultaneous reduction of ubiquinone to ubiquinol. It is a membrane protein, involved in three pathways (ETC, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the fumarate cycle) and has been shown to be essential for parasite survival, at least, in the intra-erythrocytic asexual stage. These findings indicate that PfMQO would be a valuable drug target for development of antimalarial with novel mechanism of action. Up to this point in time, difficulty in producing active recombinant mitochondrial MQO has hampered biochemical characterization and targeted drug discovery with MQO. Here we report for the first time recombinant PfMQO overexpressed in bacterial membrane and the first biochemical study. Furthermore, about 113 compounds, consisting of ubiquinone binding site inhibitors and antiparasitic agents, were screened resulting in the discovery of ferulenol as a potent PfMQO inhibitor. Finally, ferulenol was shown to inhibit parasite growth and showed strong synergism in combination with atovaquone, a well-described anti-malarial and bc1 complex inhibitor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Endah Dwi Hartuti
- Master program of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Indonesia; Biotech Center, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - Keisuke Komatsuya
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Miyazaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Russell J Miller
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wang Xinying
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Mohamad Sadikin
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Danang Waluyo
- Biotech Center, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Marie Kuroda
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eri Amalia
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Matsuo
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Nuki B Nugroho
- Biotech Center, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Hiroyuki Saimoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Amila Pramisandi
- Biotech Center, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, Jakarta, Indonesia; Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoh-Ichi Watanabe
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mihoko Mori
- Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuro Shiomi
- Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Tomoo Shiba
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shigeharu Harada
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
+Targeting Mitochondrial Functions as Antimalarial Regime, What Is Next? CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-017-0075-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
33
|
Niikura M, Komatsuya K, Inoue SI, Matsuda R, Asahi H, Inaoka DK, Kita K, Kobayashi F. Suppression of experimental cerebral malaria by disruption of malate:quinone oxidoreductase. Malar J 2017; 16:247. [PMID: 28606087 PMCID: PMC5469008 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aspartate, which is converted from oxaloacetate (OAA) by aspartate aminotransferase, is considered an important precursor for purine salvage and pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis, and is thus indispensable for the growth of Plasmodium parasites at the asexual blood stages. OAA can be produced in malaria parasites via two routes: (i) from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in the cytosol, or (ii) from fumarate by consecutive reactions catalyzed by fumarate hydratase (FH) and malate:quinone oxidoreductase (MQO) in the mitochondria of malaria parasites. Although PEPC-deficient Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei (rodent malaria) parasites show a growth defect, the mutant P. berghei can still cause experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) with similar dynamics to wild-type parasites. In contrast, the importance of FH and MQO for parasite viability, growth and virulence is not fully understood because no FH- and MQO-deficient P. falciparum has been established. In this study, the role of FH and MQO in the pathogenicity of asexual-blood-stage Plasmodium parasites causing cerebral malaria was examined. Results First, FH- and MQO-deficient parasites were generated by inserting a luciferase-expressing cassette into the fh and mqo loci in the genome of P. berghei ANKA strain. Second, the viability of FH-deficient and MQO-deficient parasites that express luciferase was determined by measuring luciferase activity, and the effect of FH or MQO deficiency on the development of ECM was examined. While the viability of FH-deficient P. berghei was comparable to that of control parasites, MQO-deficient parasites exhibited considerably reduced viability. FH activity derived from erythrocytes was also detected. This result and the absence of phenotype in FH-deficient P. berghei parasites suggest that fumarate can be metabolized to malate by host or parasite FH in P. berghei-infected erythrocytes. Furthermore, although the growth of FH- and MQO-deficient parasites was impaired, the development of ECM was suppressed only in mice infected with MQO-deficient parasites. Conclusions These findings suggest that MQO-mediated mitochondrial functions are required for development of ECM of asexual-blood-stage Plasmodium parasites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1898-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mamoru Niikura
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan
| | - Keisuke Komatsuya
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Inoue
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan
| | - Risa Matsuda
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan
| | - Hiroko Asahi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Fumie Kobayashi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Is the Mitochondrion a Good Malaria Drug Target? Trends Parasitol 2017; 33:185-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
35
|
Stage-Specific Changes in Plasmodium Metabolism Required for Differentiation and Adaptation to Different Host and Vector Environments. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006094. [PMID: 28027318 PMCID: PMC5189940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) encounter markedly different (nutritional) environments during their complex life cycles in the mosquito and human hosts. Adaptation to these different host niches is associated with a dramatic rewiring of metabolism, from a highly glycolytic metabolism in the asexual blood stages to increased dependence on tricarboxylic acid (TCA) metabolism in mosquito stages. Here we have used stable isotope labelling, targeted metabolomics and reverse genetics to map stage-specific changes in Plasmodium berghei carbon metabolism and determine the functional significance of these changes on parasite survival in the blood and mosquito stages. We show that glutamine serves as the predominant input into TCA metabolism in both asexual and sexual blood stages and is important for complete male gametogenesis. Glutamine catabolism, as well as key reactions in intermediary metabolism and CoA synthesis are also essential for ookinete to oocyst transition in the mosquito. These data extend our knowledge of Plasmodium metabolism and point towards possible targets for transmission-blocking intervention strategies. Furthermore, they highlight significant metabolic differences between Plasmodium species which are not easily anticipated based on genomics or transcriptomics studies and underline the importance of integration of metabolomics data with other platforms in order to better inform drug discovery and design. Malaria kills almost half a million people worldwide every year and more than two hundred million people are diagnosed with this deadly disease annually. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium spp., mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia and is transmitted by bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Due to an increase in resistance to existing drugs and lack of an effective vaccine, new intervention strategies which target development of parasite in human host and transmission through the mosquito vector are urgently needed. In this study, we explored the metabolic capacity of different developmental stages of the malaria parasite to determine carbon source utilization in different host niches and whether any stage-specific switches in metabolism could be exploited in new therapies aimed at eradicating malaria. Using stable isotope labelling and metabolomics, we have identified considerable nutritional adaptability of malaria parasites between the mammalian host and the mosquito vector. Gene disruption in the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei was used to identify the metabolic pathways which are crucial to the survival and development of the parasite. Our data also point at key metabolic differences in different Plasmodium species highlighting the importance of integrating metabolomics analyses with molecular tools and identifies possible transmission blocking candidates for malaria intervention.
Collapse
|
36
|
Klug D, Mair GR, Frischknecht F, Douglas RG. A small mitochondrial protein present in myzozoans is essential for malaria transmission. Open Biol 2016; 6:160034. [PMID: 27053680 PMCID: PMC4852462 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.160034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Myzozoans (which include dinoflagellates, chromerids and apicomplexans) display notable divergence from their ciliate sister group, including a reduced mitochondrial genome and divergent metabolic processes. The factors contributing to these divergent processes are still poorly understood and could serve as potential drug targets in disease-causing protists. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a small mitochondrial protein from the rodent-infecting apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium berghei that is essential for development in its mosquito host. Parasites lacking the gene mitochondrial protein ookinete developmental defect (mpodd) showed malformed parasites that were unable to transmit to mosquitoes. Knockout parasites displayed reduced mitochondrial mass without affecting organelle integrity, indicating no role of the protein in mitochondrial biogenesis or morphology maintenance but a likely role in mitochondrial import or metabolism. Using genetic complementation experiments, we identified a previously unrecognized Plasmodium falciparum homologue that can rescue the mpodd(−) phenotype, thereby showing that the gene is functionally conserved. As far as can be detected, mpodd is found in myzozoans, has homologues in the phylum Apicomplexa and appears to have arisen in free-living dinoflagellates. This suggests that the MPODD protein has a conserved mitochondrial role that is important for myzozoans. While previous studies identified a number of essential proteins which are generally highly conserved evolutionarily, our study identifies, for the first time, a non-canonical protein fulfilling a crucial function in the mitochondrion during parasite transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Klug
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gunnar R Mair
- 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
| | - Ross G Douglas
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Sakata-Kato T, Wirth DF. A Novel Methodology for Bioenergetic Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Reveals a Glucose-Regulated Metabolic Shift and Enables Mode of Action Analyses of Mitochondrial Inhibitors. ACS Infect Dis 2016; 2:903-916. [PMID: 27718558 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Given that resistance to all drugs in clinical use has arisen, discovery of new antimalarial drug targets is eagerly anticipated. The Plasmodium mitochondrion has been considered a promising drug target largely based on its significant divergence from the host organelle as well as its involvement in ATP production and pyrimidine biosynthesis. However, the functions of Plasmodium mitochondrial protein complexes and associated metabolic pathways are not fully characterized. Here, we report the development of novel and robust bioenergetic assay protocols for Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasites utilizing a Seahorse Bioscience XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. These protocols allowed us to simultaneously assess the direct effects of metabolites and inhibitors on mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic activity in real-time with the readout of oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate. Using saponin-freed parasites at the schizont stage, we found that succinate, malate, glycerol-3-phosphate, and glutamate, but not pyruvate, were able to increase the oxygen consumption rate and that glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase had the largest potential as an electron donor among tested mitochondrial dehydrogenases. Furthermore, we revealed the presence of a glucose-regulated metabolic shift between oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. We measured proton leak and reserve capacity and found bioenergetic evidence for oxidative phosphorylation in erythrocytic stage parasites but at a level much lower than that observed in mammalian cells. Lastly, we developed an assay platform for target identification and mode of action studies of mitochondria-targeting antimalarials. This study provides new insights into the bioenergetics and metabolomics of the Plasmodium mitochondria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyo Sakata-Kato
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Dyann F. Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
Intracellular single-celled parasites belonging to the large phylum Apicomplexa are amongst the most prevalent and morbidity-causing pathogens worldwide. In this review, we highlight a few of the many recent advances in the field that helped to clarify some important aspects of their fascinating biology and interaction with their hosts.
Plasmodium falciparum causes malaria, and thus the recent emergence of resistance against the currently used drug combinations based on artemisinin has been of major interest for the scientific community. It resulted in great advances in understanding the resistance mechanisms that can hopefully be translated into altered future drug regimens. Apicomplexa are also experts in host cell manipulation and immune evasion.
Toxoplasma gondii and
Theileria sp., besides
Plasmodium sp., are species that secrete effector molecules into the host cell to reach this aim. The underlying molecular mechanisms for how these proteins are trafficked to the host cytosol (
T. gondii and
Plasmodium) and how a secreted protein can immortalize the host cell (
Theileria sp.) have been illuminated recently. Moreover, how such secreted proteins affect the host innate immune responses against
T. gondii and the liver stages of
Plasmodium has also been unraveled at the genetic and molecular level, leading to unexpected insights. Methodological advances in metabolomics and molecular biology have been instrumental to solving some fundamental puzzles of mitochondrial carbon metabolism in Apicomplexa. Also, for the first time, the generation of stably transfected
Cryptosporidium parasites was achieved, which opens up a wide variety of experimental possibilities for this understudied, important apicomplexan pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Seeber
- FG16: Mycotic and parasitic agents and mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Svenja Steinfelder
- Institute of Immunology, Center of Infection Medicine, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Goodman CD, Siregar JE, Mollard V, Vega-Rodríguez J, Syafruddin D, Matsuoka H, Matsuzaki M, Toyama T, Sturm A, Cozijnsen A, Jacobs-Lorena M, Kita K, Marzuki S, McFadden GI. Parasites resistant to the antimalarial atovaquone fail to transmit by mosquitoes. Science 2016; 352:349-53. [PMID: 27081071 DOI: 10.1126/science.aad9279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance compromises control of malaria. Here, we show that resistance to a commonly used antimalarial medication, atovaquone, is apparently unable to spread. Atovaquone pressure selects parasites with mutations in cytochrome b, a respiratory protein with low but essential activity in the mammalian blood phase of the parasite life cycle. Resistance mutations rescue parasites from the drug but later prove lethal in the mosquito phase, where parasites require full respiration. Unable to respire efficiently, resistant parasites fail to complete mosquito development, arresting their life cycle. Because cytochrome b is encoded by the maternally inherited parasite mitochondrion, even outcrossing with wild-type strains cannot facilitate spread of resistance. Lack of transmission suggests that resistance will be unable to spread in the field, greatly enhancing the utility of atovaquone in malaria control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Josephine E Siregar
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, JI Diponegoro no. 69, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia. Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Joel Vega-Rodríguez
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Din Syafruddin
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, JI Diponegoro no. 69, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan Km10, Makassar 90245, Indonesia
| | - Hiroyuki Matsuoka
- Division of Medical Zoology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Motomichi Matsuzaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tomoko Toyama
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Angelika Sturm
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Anton Cozijnsen
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Sangkot Marzuki
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, JI Diponegoro no. 69, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Jacot D, Waller RF, Soldati-Favre D, MacPherson DA, MacRae JI. Apicomplexan Energy Metabolism: Carbon Source Promiscuity and the Quiescence Hyperbole. Trends Parasitol 2015; 32:56-70. [PMID: 26472327 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The nature of energy metabolism in apicomplexan parasites has been closely investigated in the recent years. Studies in Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in particular have revealed that these parasites are able to employ enzymes in non-traditional ways, while utilizing multiple anaplerotic routes into a canonical tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to satisfy their energy requirements. Importantly, some life stages of these parasites previously considered to be metabolically quiescent are, in fact, active and able to adapt their carbon source utilization to survive. We compare energy metabolism across the life cycle of malaria parasites and consider how this varies in other apicomplexans and related organisms, while discussing how this can be exploited for therapeutic intervention in these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Damien Jacot
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - James I MacRae
- The Francis Crick Institute, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Oborník M, Lukeš J. The Organellar Genomes of Chromera and Vitrella, the Phototrophic Relatives of Apicomplexan Parasites. Annu Rev Microbiol 2015; 69:129-44. [PMID: 26092225 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-091014-104449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexa are known to contain greatly reduced organellar genomes. Their mitochondrial genome carries only three protein-coding genes, and their plastid genome is reduced to a 35-kb-long circle. The discovery of coral-endosymbiotic algae Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, which share a common ancestry with Apicomplexa, provided an opportunity to study possibly ancestral forms of organellar genomes, a unique glimpse into the evolutionary history of apicomplexan parasites. The structurally similar mitochondrial genomes of Chromera and Vitrella differ in gene content, which is reflected in the composition of their respiratory chains. Thus, Chromera lacks respiratory complexes I and III, whereas Vitrella and apicomplexan parasites are missing only complex I. Plastid genomes differ substantially between these algae, particularly in structure: The Chromera plastid genome is a linear, 120-kb molecule with large and divergent genes, whereas the plastid genome of Vitrella is a highly compact circle that is only 85 kb long but nonetheless contains more genes than that of Chromera. It appears that organellar genomes have already been reduced in free-living phototrophic ancestors of apicomplexan parasites, and such reduction is not associated with parasitism.
Collapse
|
42
|
Srivastava A, Creek DJ, Evans KJ, De Souza D, Schofield L, Müller S, Barrett MP, McConville MJ, Waters AP. Host reticulocytes provide metabolic reservoirs that can be exploited by malaria parasites. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004882. [PMID: 26042734 PMCID: PMC4456406 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human malaria parasites proliferate in different erythroid cell types during infection. Whilst Plasmodium vivax exhibits a strong preference for immature reticulocytes, the more pathogenic P. falciparum primarily infects mature erythrocytes. In order to assess if these two cell types offer different growth conditions and relate them to parasite preference, we compared the metabolomes of human and rodent reticulocytes with those of their mature erythrocyte counterparts. Reticulocytes were found to have a more complex, enriched metabolic profile than mature erythrocytes and a higher level of metabolic overlap between reticulocyte resident parasite stages and their host cell. This redundancy was assessed by generating a panel of mutants of the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei with defects in intermediary carbon metabolism (ICM) and pyrimidine biosynthesis known to be important for P. falciparum growth and survival in vitro in mature erythrocytes. P. berghei ICM mutants (pbpepc-, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and pbmdh-, malate dehydrogenase) multiplied in reticulocytes and committed to sexual development like wild type parasites. However, P. berghei pyrimidine biosynthesis mutants (pboprt-, orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and pbompdc-, orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase) were restricted to growth in the youngest forms of reticulocytes and had a severe slow growth phenotype in part resulting from reduced merozoite production. The pbpepc-, pboprt- and pbompdc- mutants retained virulence in mice implying that malaria parasites can partially salvage pyrimidines but failed to complete differentiation to various stages in mosquitoes. These findings suggest that species-specific differences in Plasmodium host cell tropism result in marked differences in the necessity for parasite intrinsic metabolism. These data have implications for drug design when targeting mature erythrocyte or reticulocyte resident parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anubhav Srivastava
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Krystal J. Evans
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Division of Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David De Souza
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louis Schofield
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Division of Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Sylke Müller
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm J. McConville
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew P. Waters
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ke H, Lewis IA, Morrisey JM, McLean KJ, Ganesan SM, Painter HJ, Mather MW, Jacobs-Lorena M, Llinás M, Vaidya AB. Genetic investigation of tricarboxylic acid metabolism during the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle. Cell Rep 2015; 11:164-74. [PMID: 25843709 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
New antimalarial drugs are urgently needed to control drug-resistant forms of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Mitochondrial electron transport is the target of both existing and new antimalarials. Herein, we describe 11 genetic knockout (KO) lines that delete six of the eight mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes. Although all TCA KOs grew normally in asexual blood stages, these metabolic deficiencies halted life-cycle progression in later stages. Specifically, aconitase KO parasites arrested as late gametocytes, whereas α-ketoglutarate-dehydrogenase-deficient parasites failed to develop oocysts in the mosquitoes. Mass spectrometry analysis of (13)C-isotope-labeled TCA mutant parasites showed that P. falciparum has significant flexibility in TCA metabolism. This flexibility manifested itself through changes in pathway fluxes and through altered exchange of substrates between cytosolic and mitochondrial pools. Our findings suggest that mitochondrial metabolic plasticity is essential for parasite development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hangjun Ke
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Ian A Lewis
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Joanne M Morrisey
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Kyle J McLean
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Suresh M Ganesan
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Heather J Painter
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Michael W Mather
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Akhil B Vaidya
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Mitochondrial ATP synthase is dispensable in blood-stage Plasmodium berghei rodent malaria but essential in the mosquito phase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:10216-23. [PMID: 25831536 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1423959112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial ATP synthase is driven by chemiosmotic oxidation of pyruvate derived from glycolysis. Blood-stage malaria parasites eschew chemiosmosis, instead relying almost solely on glycolysis for their ATP generation, which begs the question of whether mitochondrial ATP synthase is necessary during the blood stage of the parasite life cycle. We knocked out the mitochondrial ATP synthase β subunit gene in the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, ablating the protein that converts ADP to ATP. Disruption of the β subunit gene of the ATP synthase only marginally reduced asexual blood-stage parasite growth but completely blocked mouse-to-mouse transmission via Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Parasites lacking the β subunit gene of the ATP synthase generated viable gametes that fuse and form ookinetes but cannot progress beyond this stage. Ookinetes lacking the β subunit gene of the ATP synthase had normal motility but were not viable in the mosquito midgut and never made oocysts or sporozoites, thereby abrogating transmission to naive mice via mosquito bite. We crossed the self-infertile ATP synthase β subunit knockout parasites with a male-deficient, self-infertile strain of P. berghei, which restored fertility and production of oocysts and sporozoites, which demonstrates that mitochondrial ATP synthase is essential for ongoing viability through the female, mitochondrion-carrying line of sexual reproduction in P. berghei malaria. Perturbation of ATP synthase completely blocks transmission to the mosquito vector and could potentially be targeted for disease control.
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites include some of the most prevalent and deadly human pathogens. Novel antiparasitic drugs are urgently needed. Synthesis and metabolism of isoprenoids may present multiple targets for therapeutic intervention. The apicoplast-localized methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis is distinct from the mevalonate (MVA) pathway used by the mammalian host, and this pathway is apparently essential in most Apicomplexa. In this review, we discuss the current field of research on production and metabolic fates of isoprenoids in apicomplexan parasites, including the acquisition of host isoprenoid precursors and downstream products. We describe recent work identifying the first MEP pathway regulator in apicomplexan parasites, and introduce several promising areas for ongoing research into this well-validated antiparasitic target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leah Imlay
- Department of Molecular Microbiology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - Audrey R Odom
- Department of Pediatrics Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110 USA & Department of Molecular Microbiology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Ke H, Sigala PA, Miura K, Morrisey JM, Mather MW, Crowley JR, Henderson JP, Goldberg DE, Long CA, Vaidya AB. The heme biosynthesis pathway is essential for Plasmodium falciparum development in mosquito stage but not in blood stages. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:34827-37. [PMID: 25352601 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.615831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Heme is an essential cofactor for aerobic organisms. Its redox chemistry is central to a variety of biological functions mediated by hemoproteins. In blood stages, malaria parasites consume most of the hemoglobin inside the infected erythrocytes, forming nontoxic hemozoin crystals from large quantities of heme released during digestion. At the same time, the parasites possess a heme de novo biosynthetic pathway. This pathway in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been considered essential and is proposed as a potential drug target. However, we successfully disrupted the first and last genes of the pathway, individually and in combination. These knock-out parasite lines, lacking 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase and/or ferrochelatase (FC), grew normally in blood-stage culture and exhibited no changes in sensitivity to heme-related antimalarial drugs. We developed a sensitive LC-MS/MS assay to monitor stable isotope incorporation into heme from its precursor 5-[(13)C4]aminolevulinic acid, and this assay confirmed that de novo heme synthesis was ablated in FC knock-out parasites. Disrupting the FC gene also caused no defects in gametocyte generation or maturation but resulted in a greater than 70% reduction in male gamete formation and completely prevented oocyst formation in female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Our data demonstrate that the heme biosynthesis pathway is not essential for asexual blood-stage growth of P. falciparum parasites but is required for mosquito transmission. Drug inhibition of pathway activity is therefore unlikely to provide successful antimalarial therapy. These data also suggest the existence of a parasite mechanism for scavenging host heme to meet metabolic needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hangjun Ke
- From the Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129
| | - Paul A Sigala
- the Department of Molecular Microbiology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, and
| | - Joanne M Morrisey
- From the Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129
| | - Michael W Mather
- From the Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129
| | - Jan R Crowley
- the Center for Women's Infectious Disease Research and
| | - Jeffrey P Henderson
- the Center for Women's Infectious Disease Research and Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- the Department of Molecular Microbiology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Carole A Long
- the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, and
| | - Akhil B Vaidya
- From the Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129,
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Sigala
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110; ,
| | - Daniel E. Goldberg
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110; ,
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Functional characterization of Anopheles matrix metalloprotease 1 reveals its agonistic role during sporogonic development of malaria parasites. Infect Immun 2014; 82:4865-77. [PMID: 25183733 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02080-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to invade tissues is a unique characteristic of the malaria stages that develop/differentiate within the mosquitoes (ookinetes and sporozoites). On the other hand, tissue invasion by many pathogens has often been associated with increased matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity in the invaded tissues. By employing cell biology and reverse genetics, we studied the expression and explored putative functions of one of the three MMPs encoded in the genome of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, namely, the Anopheles gambiae MMP1 (AgMMP1) gene, during the processes of blood digestion, midgut epithelium invasion by Plasmodium ookinetes, and oocyst development. We show that AgMMP1 exists in two alternative isoforms resulting from alternative splicing; one secreted (S-MMP1) and associated with hemocytes, and one membrane type (MT-MMP1) enriched in the cell attachment sites of the midgut epithelium. MT-MMP1 showed a remarkable response to ookinete midgut invasion manifested by increased expression, enhanced zymogen maturation, and subcellular redistribution, all indicative of an implication in the midgut epithelial healing that accompanies ookinete invasion. Importantly, RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of the AgMMP1 gene revealed a postinvasion protective function of AgMMP1 during oocyst development. The combined results link for the first time an MMP with vector competence and mosquito-Plasmodium interactions.
Collapse
|
49
|
Oppenheim RD, Creek DJ, Macrae JI, Modrzynska KK, Pino P, Limenitakis J, Polonais V, Seeber F, Barrett MP, Billker O, McConville MJ, Soldati-Favre D. BCKDH: the missing link in apicomplexan mitochondrial metabolism is required for full virulence of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium berghei. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004263. [PMID: 25032958 PMCID: PMC4102578 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
While the apicomplexan parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii are thought to primarily depend on glycolysis for ATP synthesis, recent studies have shown that they can fully catabolize glucose in a canonical TCA cycle. However, these parasites lack a mitochondrial isoform of pyruvate dehydrogenase and the identity of the enzyme that catalyses the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA remains enigmatic. Here we demonstrate that the mitochondrial branched chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) complex is the missing link, functionally replacing mitochondrial PDH in both T. gondii and P. berghei. Deletion of the E1a subunit of T. gondii and P. berghei BCKDH significantly impacted on intracellular growth and virulence of both parasites. Interestingly, disruption of the P. berghei E1a restricted parasite development to reticulocytes only and completely prevented maturation of oocysts during mosquito transmission. Overall this study highlights the importance of the molecular adaptation of BCKDH in this important class of pathogens. The mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is one of the core metabolic pathways of eukaryotic cells, which contributes to cellular energy generation and provision of essential intermediates for macromolecule synthesis. Apicomplexan parasites possess the complete sets of genes coding for the TCA cycle. However, they lack a key mitochondrial enzyme complex that is normally required for production of acetyl-CoA from pyruvate, allowing further oxidation of glycolytic intermediates in the TCA cycle. This study unequivocally resolves how acetyl-CoA is generated in the mitochondrion using a combination of genetic, biochemical and metabolomic approaches. Specifically, we show that T. gondii and P. bergei utilize a second mitochondrial dehydrogenase complex, BCKDH, that is normally involved in branched amino acid catabolism, to convert pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and further catabolize glucose in the TCA cycle. In T. gondii, loss of BCKDH leads to global defects in glucose metabolism, increased gluconeogenesis and a marked attenuation of growth in host cells and virulence in animals. In P. bergei, loss of BCKDH leads to a defect in parasite proliferation in mature red blood cells, although the mutant retains the capacity to proliferate within 'immature' reticulocytes, highlighting the role of host metabolism/physiology on the development of Plasmodium asexual stages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca D. Oppenheim
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology and Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - James I. Macrae
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- The National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paco Pino
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Limenitakis
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valerie Polonais
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frank Seeber
- FG16 - Mycotic and parasitic agents and mycobacteria, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology and Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Billker
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm J. McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Sáenz FE, LaCrue AN, Cross RM, Maignan JR, Udenze KO, Manetsch R, Kyle DE. 4-(1H)-Quinolones and 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroacridin-9(10H)-ones prevent the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum to Anopheles freeborni. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:6187-95. [PMID: 24080648 PMCID: PMC3837905 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00492-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria kills approximately 1 million people a year, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Essential steps in the life cycle of the parasite are the development of gametocytes, as well as the formation of oocysts and sporozoites, in the Anopheles mosquito vector. Preventing transmission of malaria through the mosquito is necessary for the control of the disease; nevertheless, the vast majority of drugs in use act primarily against the blood stages. The study described herein focuses on the assessment of the transmission-blocking activities of potent antierythrocytic stage agents derived from the 4(1H)-quinolone scaffold. In particular, three 3-alkyl- or 3-phenyl-4(1H)-quinolones (P4Qs), one 7-(2-phenoxyethoxy)-4(1H)-quinolone (PEQ), and one 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridin-9(10H)-one (THA) were assessed for their transmission-blocking activity against the mosquito stages of the human malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) and the rodent parasite (P. berghei). Results showed that all of the experimental compounds reduced or prevented the exflagellation of male gametocytes and, more importantly, prevented parasite transmission to the mosquito vector. Additionally, treatment with ICI 56,780 reduced the number of sporozoites that reached the Anopheles salivary glands. These findings suggest that 4(1H)-quinolones, which have activity against the blood stages, can also prevent the transmission of Plasmodium to the mosquito and, hence, are potentially important drug candidates to eradicate malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabián E. Sáenz
- Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Alexis N. LaCrue
- Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - R. Matthew Cross
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jordany R. Maignan
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Kenneth O. Udenze
- Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Roman Manetsch
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Dennis E. Kyle
- Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|