1
|
Singh P, Vydyam P, Fang T, Estrada K, Gonzalez LM, Grande R, Kumar M, Chakravarty S, Berry V, Ranwez V, Carcy B, Depoix D, Sánchez S, Cornillot E, Abel S, Ciampossin L, Lenz T, Harb O, Sanchez-Flores A, Montero E, Le Roch KG, Lonardi S, Mamoun CB. Insights into the evolution, virulence and speciation of Babesia MO1 and Babesia divergens through multiomics analyses. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2386136. [PMID: 39148308 PMCID: PMC11370697 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2386136] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Babesiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia, is an emerging tick-borne disease of significance for both human and animal health. Babesia parasites infect erythrocytes of vertebrate hosts where they develop and multiply rapidly to cause the pathological symptoms associated with the disease. The identification of new Babesia species underscores the ongoing risk of zoonotic pathogens capable of infecting humans, a concern amplified by anthropogenic activities and environmental changes. One such pathogen, Babesia MO1, previously implicated in severe cases of human babesiosis in the United States, was initially considered a subspecies of B. divergens, the predominant agent of human babesiosis in Europe. Here we report comparative multiomics analyses of B. divergens and B. MO1 that offer insight into their biology and evolution. Our analysis shows that despite their highly similar genomic sequences, substantial genetic and genomic divergence occurred throughout their evolution resulting in major differences in gene functions, expression and regulation, replication rates and susceptibility to antiparasitic drugs. Furthermore, both pathogens have evolved distinct classes of multigene families, crucial for their pathogenicity and adaptation to specific mammalian hosts. Leveraging genomic information for B. MO1, B. divergens, and other members of the Babesiidae family within Apicomplexa provides valuable insights into the evolution, diversity, and virulence of these parasites. This knowledge serves as a critical tool in preemptively addressing the emergence and rapid transmission of more virulent strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Singh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pratap Vydyam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tiffany Fang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Karel Estrada
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciacion Masiva y Bioinformatica, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Luis Miguel Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Ricardo Grande
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciacion Masiva y Bioinformatica, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Madelyn Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sakshar Chakravarty
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Berry
- LIRMM – Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Vincent Ranwez
- AGAP Institut, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Bernard Carcy
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, CHU, Montpellier, France
| | - Delphine Depoix
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR7245), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Sergio Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Infecciones Bacterianas Transmitidas por Agua y Alimentos, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Cornillot
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle (IBC), and Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM - INSERM U1194), Institut régional du Cancer Montpellier (ICM) & Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Loic Ciampossin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Todd Lenz
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Omar Harb
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alejandro Sanchez-Flores
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciacion Masiva y Bioinformatica, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Estrella Montero
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Karine G. Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Stefano Lonardi
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Singh P, Vydyam P, Fang T, Estrada K, Gonzalez LM, Grande R, Kumar M, Chakravarty S, Berry V, Ranwez V, Carcy B, Depoix D, Sánchez S, Cornillot E, Abel S, Ciampossin L, Lenz T, Harb O, Sanchez-Flores A, Montero E, Le Roch KG, Lonardi S, Ben Mamoun C. Multiomics analysis reveals B. MO1 as a distinct Babesia species and provides insights into its evolution and virulence. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.17.575932. [PMID: 38293033 PMCID: PMC10827214 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.17.575932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Babesiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia , is an emerging tick-borne disease of significance for both human and animal health. Babesia parasites infect erythrocytes of vertebrate hosts where they develop and multiply rapidly to cause the pathological symptoms associated with the disease. The identification of various Babesia species underscores the ongoing risk of new zoonotic pathogens capable of infecting humans, a concern amplified by anthropogenic activities and environmental shifts impacting the distribution and transmission dynamics of parasites, their vectors, and reservoir hosts. One such species, Babesia MO1, previously implicated in severe cases of human babesiosis in the midwestern United States, was initially considered closely related to B. divergens , the predominant agent of human babesiosis in Europe. Yet, uncertainties persist regarding whether these pathogens represent distinct variants of the same species or are entirely separate species. We show that although both B. MO1 and B. divergens share similar genome sizes, comprising three nuclear chromosomes, one linear mitochondrial chromosome, and one circular apicoplast chromosome, major differences exist in terms of genomic sequence divergence, gene functions, transcription profiles, replication rates and susceptibility to antiparasitic drugs. Furthermore, both pathogens have evolved distinct classes of multigene families, crucial for their pathogenicity and adaptation to specific mammalian hosts. Leveraging genomic information for B. MO1, B. divergens , and other members of the Babesiidae family within Apicomplexa provides valuable insights into the evolution, diversity, and virulence of these parasites. This knowledge serves as a critical tool in preemptively addressing the emergence and rapid transmission of more virulent strains.
Collapse
|
3
|
Siqueira-Neto JL, Wicht KJ, Chibale K, Burrows JN, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA. Antimalarial drug discovery: progress and approaches. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:807-826. [PMID: 37652975 PMCID: PMC10543600 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00772-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent antimalarial drug discovery has been a race to produce new medicines that overcome emerging drug resistance, whilst considering safety and improving dosing convenience. Discovery efforts have yielded a variety of new molecules, many with novel modes of action, and the most advanced are in late-stage clinical development. These discoveries have led to a deeper understanding of how antimalarial drugs act, the identification of a new generation of drug targets, and multiple structure-based chemistry initiatives. The limited pool of funding means it is vital to prioritize new drug candidates. They should exhibit high potency, a low propensity for resistance, a pharmacokinetic profile that favours infrequent dosing, low cost, preclinical results that demonstrate safety and tolerability in women and infants, and preferably the ability to block Plasmodium transmission to Anopheles mosquito vectors. In this Review, we describe the approaches that have been successful, progress in preclinical and clinical development, and existing challenges. We illustrate how antimalarial drug discovery can serve as a model for drug discovery in diseases of poverty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathryn J Wicht
- Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | | | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fitri LE, Pawestri AR, Winaris N, Endharti AT, Khotimah ARH, Abidah HY, Huwae JTR. Antimalarial Drug Resistance: A Brief History of Its Spread in Indonesia. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:1995-2010. [PMID: 37431492 PMCID: PMC10329833 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s403672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains to be a national and global challenge and priority, as stated in the strategic plan of the Indonesian Ministry of Health and Sustainable Development Goals. In Indonesia, it is targeted that malaria elimination can be achieved by 2030. Unfortunately, the development and spread of antimalarial resistance inflicts a significant risk to the national malaria control programs which can lead to increased malaria morbidity and mortality. In Indonesia, resistance to widely used antimalarial drugs has been reported in two human species, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. With the exception of artemisinin, resistance has surfaced towards all classes of antimalarial drugs. Initially, chloroquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and primaquine were the most widely used antimalarial drugs. Regrettably, improper use has supported the robust spread of their resistance. Chloroquine resistance was first reported in 1974, while sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine emerged in 1979. Twenty years later, most provinces had declared treatment failures of both drugs. Molecular epidemiology suggested that variations in pfmdr1 and pfcrt genes were associated with chloroquine resistance, while dhfr and dhps genes were correlated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance. Additionally, G453W, V454C and E455K of pfk13 genes appeared to be early warning sign to artemisinin resistance. Here, we reported mechanisms of antimalarial drugs and their development of resistance. This insight could provide awareness toward designing future treatment guidelines and control programs in Indonesia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loeki Enggar Fitri
- Department of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
- AIDS, Toxoplasma, Opportunistic Disease and Malaria Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Aulia Rahmi Pawestri
- Department of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
- AIDS, Toxoplasma, Opportunistic Disease and Malaria Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Nuning Winaris
- Department of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
- AIDS, Toxoplasma, Opportunistic Disease and Malaria Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Agustina Tri Endharti
- Department of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Alif Raudhah Husnul Khotimah
- Master Program in Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
- Medical Doctor Profession Education, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Hafshah Yasmina Abidah
- Master Program in Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
- Medical Doctor Profession Education, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University, Malang, Indonesia
| | - John Thomas Rayhan Huwae
- Master Program in Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
- Medical Doctor Profession Study Program Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kattenberg JH, Fernandez-Miñope C, van Dijk NJ, Llacsahuanga Allcca L, Guetens P, Valdivia HO, Van geertruyden JP, Rovira-Vallbona E, Monsieurs P, Delgado-Ratto C, Gamboa D, Rosanas-Urgell A. Malaria Molecular Surveillance in the Peruvian Amazon with a Novel Highly Multiplexed Plasmodium falciparum AmpliSeq Assay. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0096022. [PMID: 36840586 PMCID: PMC10101074 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00960-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular surveillance for malaria has great potential to support national malaria control programs (NMCPs). To bridge the gap between research and implementation, several applications (use cases) have been identified to align research, technology development, and public health efforts. For implementation at NMCPs, there is an urgent need for feasible and cost-effective tools. We designed a new highly multiplexed deep sequencing assay (Pf AmpliSeq), which is compatible with benchtop sequencers, that allows high-accuracy sequencing with higher coverage and lower cost than whole-genome sequencing (WGS), targeting genomic regions of interest. The novelty of the assay is its high number of targets multiplexed into one easy workflow, combining population genetic markers with 13 nearly full-length resistance genes, which is applicable for many different use cases. We provide the first proof of principle for hrp2 and hrp3 deletion detection using amplicon sequencing. Initial sequence data processing can be performed automatically, and subsequent variant analysis requires minimal bioinformatic skills using any tabulated data analysis program. The assay was validated using a retrospective sample collection (n = 254) from the Peruvian Amazon between 2003 and 2018. By combining phenotypic markers and a within-country 28-single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) barcode, we were able to distinguish different lineages with multiple resistance haplotypes (in dhfr, dhps, crt and mdr1) and hrp2 and hrp3 deletions, which have been increasing in recent years. We found no evidence to suggest the emergence of artemisinin (ART) resistance in Peru. These findings indicate a parasite population that is under drug pressure but is susceptible to current antimalarials and demonstrate the added value of a highly multiplexed molecular tool to inform malaria strategies and surveillance systems. IMPORTANCE While the power of next-generation sequencing technologies to inform and guide malaria control programs has become broadly recognized, the integration of genomic data for operational incorporation into malaria surveillance remains a challenge in most countries where malaria is endemic. The main obstacles include limited infrastructure, limited access to high-throughput sequencing facilities, and the need for local capacity to run an in-country analysis of genomes at a large-enough scale to be informative for surveillance. In addition, there is a lack of standardized laboratory protocols and automated analysis pipelines to generate reproducible and timely results useful for relevant stakeholders. With our standardized laboratory and bioinformatic workflow, malaria genetic surveillance data can be readily generated by surveillance researchers and malaria control programs in countries of endemicity, increasing ownership and ensuring timely results for informed decision- and policy-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Fernandez-Miñope
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Norbert J. van Dijk
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Biomedical Sciences Department, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lidia Llacsahuanga Allcca
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Pieter Guetens
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Biomedical Sciences Department, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hugo O. Valdivia
- Department of Parasitology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Lima, Peru
| | | | - Eduard Rovira-Vallbona
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Biomedical Sciences Department, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Monsieurs
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Biomedical Sciences Department, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christopher Delgado-Ratto
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Anna Rosanas-Urgell
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Biomedical Sciences Department, Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bendezu J, Torres K, Villasis E, Incardona S, Bell D, Vinetz J, Gamboa D. Geographical distribution and genetic characterization of pfhrp2 negative Plasmodium falciparum parasites in the Peruvian Amazon. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273872. [PMID: 36413547 PMCID: PMC9681099 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been evaluated in the Peruvian Amazon region and their performance has been variable. This region is known for being the first with documented evidence of wild Plasmodium falciparum parasites lacking pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes, leading to false-positive results with HRP2-based RDTs. In our attempt to further characterize the deletion pattern of these genes and their evolutionary relationship, 93 P. falciparum samples, collected in different communities from the Peruvian Amazon region between 2009 and 2010, were analyzed in this study. Genomic DNA was used to amplify 18S rRNA, pfmsp2 and pfglurp to confirm the diagnosis and DNA quality, respectively; pfhrp2, pfhrp3, and their flanking genes were amplified by PCR to assess the pattern of the gene deletions. In addition, microsatellite analysis were performed using seven neutral microsatellites (MS) and five microsatellite loci flanking pfhrp2. The data showed the absence of pfhrp3 gene in 53.76% (50/93) of the samples, reflecting a higher frequency than the proportion of pfhrp2 gene deletions (33.33%; 31/93). Among the flanking genes, the highest frequency of deletion was observed in the PF3D7_0831900 gene (78.49%; 73/93) for pfhrp2. MS marker analysis showed the presence of 8 P. falciparum lineages. The lineage Bv1 was the most prevalent among parasites lacking pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes. Additionally, using MS flanking pfhrp2 gene, the haplotypes α and δ were found to be the most abundant in this region. This study confirms the presence in this area of field isolates with deletions in either pfhrp2, pfhrp3, or both genes, along with their respective flanking regions. Our data suggest that some pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletion haplotypes, in special the lineage Bv1, are widely dispersed within the Peruvian Amazon. The persistence of these haplotypes ensures a proportion of P.falciparum parasites lacking the pfhrp2/pfhrp3 genes in this area, which ultimately leads to false-negative results on PfHRP2-detecting malaria RDTs. However, additional studies are needed to not only confirm this hypothesis but also to further delineate the origin and genetic basis for the pfhrp2- and pfhrp3 gene deletions in wild P. falciparum parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Bendezu
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Escuela Universitaria de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Federico Villareal, Lima, Peru
| | - Katherine Torres
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt” Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Elizabeth Villasis
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt” Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | | | - David Bell
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Vinetz
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Laboratorio de Malaria, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt” Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Beshir KB, Parr JB, Cunningham J, Cheng Q, Rogier E. Screening strategies and laboratory assays to support Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein deletion surveillance: where we are and what is needed. Malar J 2022; 21:201. [PMID: 35751070 PMCID: PMC9233320 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04226-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) detecting Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) have been an important tool for malaria diagnosis, especially in resource-limited settings lacking quality microscopy. Plasmodium falciparum parasites with deletion of the pfhrp2 gene encoding this antigen have now been identified in dozens of countries across Asia, Africa, and South America, with new reports revealing a high prevalence of deletions in some selected regions. To determine whether HRP2-based RDTs are appropriate for continued use in a locality, focused surveys and/or surveillance activities of the endemic P. falciparum population are needed. Various survey and laboratory methods have been used to determine parasite HRP2 phenotype and pfhrp2 genotype, and the data collected by these different methods need to be interpreted in the appropriate context of survey and assay utilized. Expression of the HRP2 antigen can be evaluated using point-of-care RDTs or laboratory-based immunoassays, but confirmation of a deletion (or mutation) of pfhrp2 requires more intensive laboratory molecular assays, and new tools and strategies for rigorous but practical data collection are particularly needed for large surveys. Because malaria diagnostic strategies are typically developed at the national level, nationally representative surveys and/or surveillance that encompass broad geographical areas and large populations may be required. Here is discussed contemporary assays for the phenotypic and genotypic evaluation of P. falciparum HRP2 status, consider their strengths and weaknesses, and highlight key concepts relevant to timely and resource-conscious workflows required for efficient diagnostic policy decision making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khalid B Beshir
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Jonathan B Parr
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jane Cunningham
- Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Qin Cheng
- Drug Resistance and Diagnostics, Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Eric Rogier
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30029, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Reed J, Kirkman LA, Kafsack BF, Mason CE, Deitsch KW. Telomere length dynamics in response to DNA damage in malaria parasites. iScience 2021; 24:102082. [PMID: 33644714 PMCID: PMC7887396 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Recent work has implicated chromosome end stability and the repair of DNA breaks through telomere healing as potent drivers of variant antigen diversification, thus associating basic mechanisms for maintaining genome integrity with aspects of host-parasite interactions. Here we applied long-read sequencing technology to precisely examine the dynamics of telomere addition and chromosome end stabilization in response to double-strand breaks within subtelomeric regions. We observed that the process of telomere healing induces the initial synthesis of telomere repeats well in excess of the minimal number required for end stability. However, once stabilized, these newly created telomeres appear to function normally, eventually returning to a length nearing that of intact chromosome ends. These results parallel recent observations in humans, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for chromosome end repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jake Reed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura A. Kirkman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Björn F. Kafsack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Jill Roberts Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kirk W. Deitsch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Adebayo JO, Tijjani H, Adegunloye AP, Ishola AA, Balogun EA, Malomo SO. Enhancing the antimalarial activity of artesunate. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2749-2764. [PMID: 32638101 PMCID: PMC7340003 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06786-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The global challenge to the treatment of malaria is mainly the occurrence of resistance of malaria parasites to conventionally used antimalarials. Artesunate, a semisynthetic artemisinin compound, and other artemisinin derivatives are currently used in combination with selected active antimalarial drugs in order to prevent or delay the emergence of resistance to artemisinin derivatives. Several methods, such as preparation of hybrid compounds, combination therapy, chemical modification and the use of synthetic materials to enhance solubility and delivery of artesunate, have been employed over the years to improve the antimalarial activity of artesunate. Each of these methods has advantages it bestows on the efficacy of artesunate. This review discussed the various methods employed in enhancing the antimalarial activity of artesunate and delaying the emergence of resistance of parasite to it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J O Adebayo
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
| | - H Tijjani
- Department of Biochemistry, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria
| | - A P Adegunloye
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - A A Ishola
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - E A Balogun
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - S O Malomo
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2 and 3 Gene Deletions and Their Implications in Malaria Control. Diseases 2020; 8:diseases8020015. [PMID: 32443811 PMCID: PMC7349124 DOI: 10.3390/diseases8020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains the biggest threat to public health, especially among pregnant women and young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is critical for effective case management and detection of drug resistance. Conventionally, microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are the tools of choice for malaria diagnosis. RDTs are simple to use and have been extensively used in the diagnosis of malaria among travelers to malaria-endemic regions, routine case management, and surveillance studies. Most RDTs target the histidine-rich protein (PfHRP) which is exclusively found in Plasmodium falciparum and a metabolic enzyme Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) which is common among all Plasmodium species. Other RDTs incorporate the enzyme aldolase that is produced by all Plasmodium species. Recently, studies have reported false-negative RDTs primarily due to the deletion of the histidine-rich protein (pfhrp2 and pfhrp3) genes in field isolates of P. falciparum. Herein, we review published literature to establish pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions, the extent of these deletions in different geographical regions, and the implication in malaria control. We searched for publications on pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions and retrieved all publications that reported on this subject. Overall, 20 publications reported on pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions, and most of these studies were done in Central and South America, with very few in Asia and Africa. The few studies in Africa that reported on the occurrence of pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions rarely evaluated deletions on the flanking genes. More studies are required to evaluate the existence and extent of these gene deletions, whose presence may lead to delayed or missed treatment. This information will guide appropriate diagnostic approaches in the respective areas.
Collapse
|
11
|
Mathieu LC, Cox H, Early AM, Mok S, Lazrek Y, Paquet JC, Ade MP, Lucchi NW, Grant Q, Udhayakumar V, Alexandre JS, Demar M, Ringwald P, Neafsey DE, Fidock DA, Musset L. Local emergence in Amazonia of Plasmodium falciparum k13 C580Y mutants associated with in vitro artemisinin resistance. eLife 2020; 9:51015. [PMID: 32394893 PMCID: PMC7217694 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimalarial drug resistance has historically arisen through convergent de novo mutations in Plasmodium falciparum parasite populations in Southeast Asia and South America. For the past decade in Southeast Asia, artemisinins, the core component of first-line antimalarial therapies, have experienced delayed parasite clearance associated with several pfk13 mutations, primarily C580Y. We report that mutant pfk13 has emerged independently in Guyana, with genome analysis indicating an evolutionary origin distinct from Southeast Asia. Pfk13 C580Y parasites were observed in 1.6% (14/854) of samples collected in Guyana in 2016-2017. Introducing pfk13 C580Y or R539T mutations by gene editing into local parasites conferred high levels of in vitro artemisinin resistance. In vitro growth competition assays revealed a fitness cost associated with these pfk13 variants, potentially explaining why these resistance alleles have not increased in frequency more quickly in South America. These data place local malaria control efforts at risk in the Guiana Shield.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luana C Mathieu
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, Centre Nationale de Référence du Paludisme, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana.,Ecole Doctorale n°587, Diversités, Santé, et Développement en Amazonie, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Horace Cox
- Ministry of Public Health, Georgetown, Guyana
| | - Angela M Early
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Yassamine Lazrek
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, Centre Nationale de Référence du Paludisme, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Jeanne-Celeste Paquet
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Maria-Paz Ade
- Department of Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, United States
| | - Naomi W Lucchi
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | - Quacy Grant
- Ministry of Public Health, Georgetown, Guyana
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | | | - Magalie Demar
- Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon, Cayenne, French Guiana.,Ecosystèmes Amazoniens et Pathologie Tropicale (EPAT), EA3593, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Pascal Ringwald
- Global Malaria Program, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Lise Musset
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, Centre Nationale de Référence du Paludisme, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Batista FA, Gyau B, Vilacha JF, Bosch SS, Lunev S, Wrenger C, Groves MR. New directions in antimalarial target validation. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:189-202. [PMID: 31959021 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1691996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Malaria is one of the most prevalent human infections worldwide with over 40% of the world's population living in malaria-endemic areas. In the absence of an effective vaccine, emergence of drug-resistant strains requires urgent drug development. Current methods applied to drug target validation, a crucial step in drug discovery, possess limitations in malaria. These constraints require the development of techniques capable of simplifying the validation of Plasmodial targets.Areas covered: The authors review the current state of the art in techniques used to validate drug targets in malaria, including our contribution - the protein interference assay (PIA) - as an additional tool in rapid in vivo target validation.Expert opinion: Each technique in this review has advantages and disadvantages, implying that future validation efforts should not focus on a single approach, but integrate multiple approaches. PIA is a significant addition to the current toolset of antimalarial validation. Validation of aspartate metabolism as a druggable pathway provided proof of concept of how oligomeric interfaces can be exploited to control specific activity in vivo. PIA has the potential to be applied not only to other enzymes/pathways of the malaria parasite but could, in principle, be extrapolated to other infectious diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando A Batista
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Benjamin Gyau
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Juliana F Vilacha
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Soraya S Bosch
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergey Lunev
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matthew R Groves
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nkhoma SC, Trevino SG, Gorena KM, Nair S, Khoswe S, Jett C, Garcia R, Daniel B, Dia A, Terlouw DJ, Ward SA, Anderson TJC, Cheeseman IH. Co-transmission of Related Malaria Parasite Lineages Shapes Within-Host Parasite Diversity. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 27:93-103.e4. [PMID: 31901523 PMCID: PMC7159252 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In high-transmission regions, we expect parasite lineages within complex malaria infections to be unrelated due to parasite inoculations from different mosquitoes. This project was designed to test this prediction. We generated 485 single-cell genome sequences from fifteen P. falciparum malaria patients from Chikhwawa, Malawi-an area of intense transmission. Patients harbored up to seventeen unique parasite lineages. Surprisingly, parasite lineages within infections tend to be closely related, suggesting that superinfection by repeated mosquito bites is rarer than co-transmission of parasites from a single mosquito. Both closely and distantly related parasites comprise an infection, suggesting sequential transmission of complex infections between multiple hosts. We identified tetrads and reconstructed parental haplotypes, which revealed the inbred ancestry of infections and non-Mendelian inheritance. Our analysis suggests strong barriers to secondary infection and outbreeding amongst malaria parasites from a high transmission setting, providing unexpected insights into the biology and transmission of malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Standwell C Nkhoma
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Wellcome Trust Liverpool Glasgow Centre for Global Health Research, Liverpool, UK; Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | | | - Karla M Gorena
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Shalini Nair
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Stanley Khoswe
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Catherine Jett
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Roy Garcia
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Benjamin Daniel
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Aliou Dia
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Dianne J Terlouw
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cowell AN, Winzeler EA. The genomic architecture of antimalarial drug resistance. Brief Funct Genomics 2019; 18:314-328. [PMID: 31119263 PMCID: PMC6859814 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, the two protozoan parasite species that cause the majority of cases of human malaria, have developed resistance to nearly all known antimalarials. The ability of malaria parasites to develop resistance is primarily due to the high numbers of parasites in the infected person's bloodstream during the asexual blood stage of infection in conjunction with the mutability of their genomes. Identifying the genetic mutations that mediate antimalarial resistance has deepened our understanding of how the parasites evade our treatments and reveals molecular markers that can be used to track the emergence of resistance in clinical samples. In this review, we examine known genetic mutations that lead to resistance to the major classes of antimalarial medications: the 4-aminoquinolines (chloroquine, amodiaquine and piperaquine), antifolate drugs, aryl amino-alcohols (quinine, lumefantrine and mefloquine), artemisinin compounds, antibiotics (clindamycin and doxycycline) and a napthoquinone (atovaquone). We discuss how the evolution of antimalarial resistance informs strategies to design the next generation of antimalarial therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie N Cowell
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Schindler T, Deal AC, Fink M, Guirou E, Moser KA, Mwakasungula SM, Mihayo MG, Jongo SA, Chaki PP, Abdulla S, Valverde PCM, Torres K, Bijeri JR, Silva JC, Hoffman SL, Gamboa D, Tanner M, Daubenberger C. A multiplex qPCR approach for detection of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions in multiple strain infections of Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13107. [PMID: 31511562 PMCID: PMC6739368 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49389-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid and accurate diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection is an essential factor in malaria control. Currently, malaria diagnosis in the field depends heavily on using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) many of which detect circulating parasite-derived histidine-rich protein 2 antigen (PfHRP2) in capillary blood. P. falciparum strains lacking PfHRP2, due to pfhrp2 gene deletions, are an emerging threat to malaria control programs. The novel assay described here, named qHRP2/3-del, is well suited for high-throughput screening of P. falciparum isolates to identify these gene deletions. The qHRP2/3-del assay identified pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletion status correctly in 93.4% of samples with parasitemia levels higher than 5 parasites/µL when compared to nested PCR. The qHRP2/3-del assay can correctly identify pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions in multiple strain co-infections, particularly prevalent in Sub-Saharan countries. Deployment of this qHRP2/3-del assay will provide rapid insight into the prevalence and potential spread of P. falciparum isolates that escape surveillance by RDTs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Schindler
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Anna C Deal
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martina Fink
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Etienne Guirou
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kara A Moser
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Solomon M Mwakasungula
- Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Michael G Mihayo
- Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Said A Jongo
- Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Prosper P Chaki
- Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Salim Abdulla
- Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Paulo C Manrique Valverde
- Laboratorios de Investigacion y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia & Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Alexander von Humboldt Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Katherine Torres
- Laboratorios de Investigacion y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia & Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Alexander von Humboldt Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jose R Bijeri
- Equatorial Guinea Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
| | - Joana C Silva
- Laboratorios de Investigacion y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia & Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Alexander von Humboldt Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Laboratorios de Investigacion y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofia & Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Alexander von Humboldt Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Marcel Tanner
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Daubenberger
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Cowell AN, Istvan ES, Lukens AK, Gomez-Lorenzo MG, Vanaerschot M, Sakata-Kato T, Flannery EL, Magistrado P, Owen E, Abraham M, LaMonte G, Painter HJ, Williams RM, Franco V, Linares M, Arriaga I, Bopp S, Corey VC, Gnädig NF, Coburn-Flynn O, Reimer C, Gupta P, Murithi JM, Moura PA, Fuchs O, Sasaki E, Kim SW, Teng CH, Wang LT, Akidil A, Adjalley S, Willis PA, Siegel D, Tanaseichuk O, Zhong Y, Zhou Y, Llinás M, Ottilie S, Gamo FJ, Lee MCS, Goldberg DE, Fidock DA, Wirth DF, Winzeler EA. Mapping the malaria parasite druggable genome by using in vitro evolution and chemogenomics. Science 2018; 359:191-199. [PMID: 29326268 PMCID: PMC5925756 DOI: 10.1126/science.aan4472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chemogenetic characterization through in vitro evolution combined with whole-genome analysis can identify antimalarial drug targets and drug-resistance genes. We performed a genome analysis of 262 Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to 37 diverse compounds. We found 159 gene amplifications and 148 nonsynonymous changes in 83 genes associated with drug-resistance acquisition, where gene amplifications contributed to one-third of resistance acquisition events. Beyond confirming previously identified multidrug-resistance mechanisms, we discovered hitherto unrecognized drug target-inhibitor pairs, including thymidylate synthase and a benzoquinazolinone, farnesyltransferase and a pyrimidinedione, and a dipeptidylpeptidase and an arylurea. This exploration of the P. falciparum resistome and druggable genome will likely guide drug discovery and structural biology efforts, while also advancing our understanding of resistance mechanisms available to the malaria parasite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie N Cowell
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eva S Istvan
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Amanda K Lukens
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Infectious Disease Program, The Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Maria G Gomez-Lorenzo
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manu Vanaerschot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tomoyo Sakata-Kato
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Erika L Flannery
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Pamela Magistrado
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Edward Owen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Matthew Abraham
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gregory LaMonte
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Heather J Painter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Roy M Williams
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Virginia Franco
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Linares
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Arriaga
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Selina Bopp
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Victoria C Corey
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nina F Gnädig
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Olivia Coburn-Flynn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Christin Reimer
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Purva Gupta
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - James M Murithi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Pedro A Moura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Olivia Fuchs
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Erika Sasaki
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sang W Kim
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christine H Teng
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lawrence T Wang
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Aslı Akidil
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Sophie Adjalley
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Paul A Willis
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Post Office Box 1826, 20 Route de Pre-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Dionicio Siegel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Olga Tanaseichuk
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John J Hopkins Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Yang Zhong
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John J Hopkins Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Yingyao Zhou
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John J Hopkins Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Francisco-Javier Gamo
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcus C S Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Infectious Disease Program, The Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum replicates within circulating red blood cells, where it is subjected to conditions that frequently cause DNA damage. The repair of DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) is thought to rely almost exclusively on homologous recombination (HR), due to a lack of efficient nonhomologous end joining. However, given that the parasite is haploid during this stage of its life cycle, the mechanisms involved in maintaining genome stability are poorly understood. Of particular interest are the subtelomeric regions of the chromosomes, which contain the majority of the multicopy variant antigen-encoding genes responsible for virulence and disease severity. Here, we show that parasites utilize a competitive balance between de novo telomere addition, also called “telomere healing,” and HR to stabilize chromosome ends. Products of both repair pathways were observed in response to DSBs that occurred spontaneously during routine in vitro culture or resulted from experimentally induced DSBs, demonstrating that both pathways are active in repairing DSBs within subtelomeric regions and that the pathway utilized was determined by the DNA sequences immediately surrounding the break. In combination, these two repair pathways enable parasites to efficiently maintain chromosome stability while also contributing to the generation of genetic diversity. Malaria is a major global health threat, causing approximately 430,000 deaths annually. This mosquito-transmitted disease is caused by Plasmodium parasites, with infection with the species Plasmodium falciparum being the most lethal. Mechanisms underlying DNA repair and maintenance of genome integrity in P. falciparum are not well understood and represent a gap in our understanding of how parasites survive the hostile environment of their vertebrate and insect hosts. Our work examines DNA repair in real time by using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing focused on the subtelomeric regions of the genome that harbor the multicopy gene families important for virulence and the maintenance of infection. We show that parasites utilize two competing molecular mechanisms to repair double-strand breaks, homologous recombination and de novo telomere addition, with the pathway used being determined by the surrounding DNA sequence. In combination, these two pathways balance the need to maintain genome stability with the selective advantage of generating antigenic diversity.
Collapse
|
18
|
Targeting Protein Translation in Organelles of the Apicomplexa. Trends Parasitol 2016; 32:953-965. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
19
|
Guggisberg AM, Sundararaman SA, Lanaspa M, Moraleda C, González R, Mayor A, Cisteró P, Hutchinson D, Kremsner PG, Hahn BH, Bassat Q, Odom AR. Whole-Genome Sequencing to Evaluate the Resistance Landscape Following Antimalarial Treatment Failure With Fosmidomycin-Clindamycin. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:1085-91. [PMID: 27443612 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel antimalarial therapies are needed in the face of emerging resistance to artemisinin combination therapies. A previous study found a high cure rate in Mozambican children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria 7 days after combination treatment with fosmidomycin-clindamycin. However, 28-day cure rates were low (45.9%), owing to parasite recrudescence. We sought to identify any genetic changes underlying parasite recrudescence. To this end, we used a selective whole-genome amplification method to amplify parasite genomes from blood spot DNA samples. Parasite genomes from pretreatment and postrecrudescence samples were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to identify nucleotide variants. Our data did not support the existence of a genetic change responsible for recrudescence following fosmidomycin-clindamycin treatment. Additionally, we found that previously described resistance alleles for these drugs do not represent biomarkers of recrudescence. Future studies should continue to optimize fosmidomycin combinations for use as antimalarial therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sesh A Sundararaman
- Department of Medicine Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Miguel Lanaspa
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cinta Moraleda
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel González
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Cisteró
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Germany Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Department of Medicine Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Quique Bassat
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Audrey R Odom
- Department of Pediatrics Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Moreira CK, Naissant B, Coppi A, Bennett BL, Aime E, Franke-Fayard B, Janse CJ, Coppens I, Sinnis P, Templeton TJ. The Plasmodium PHIST and RESA-Like Protein Families of Human and Rodent Malaria Parasites. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152510. [PMID: 27022937 PMCID: PMC4811531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The phist gene family has members identified across the Plasmodium genus, defined by the presence of a domain of roughly 150 amino acids having conserved aromatic residues and an all alpha-helical structure. The family is highly amplified in P. falciparum, with 65 predicted genes in the genome of the 3D7 isolate. In contrast, in the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei 3 genes are identified, one of which is an apparent pseudogene. Transcripts of the P. berghei phist genes are predominant in schizonts, whereas in P. falciparum transcript profiles span different asexual blood stages and gametocytes. We pursued targeted disruption of P. berghei phist genes in order to characterize a simplistic model for the expanded phist gene repertoire in P. falciparum. Unsuccessful attempts to disrupt P. berghei PBANKA_114540 suggest that this phist gene is essential, while knockout of phist PBANKA_122900 shows an apparent normal progression and non-essential function throughout the life cycle. Epitope-tagging of P. falciparum and P. berghei phist genes confirmed protein export to the erythrocyte cytoplasm and localization with a punctate pattern. Three P. berghei PEXEL/HT-positive exported proteins exhibit at least partial co-localization, in support of a common vesicular compartment in the cytoplasm of erythrocytes infected with rodent malaria parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina K. Moreira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, United States of America
| | - Bernina Naissant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, United States of America
| | - Alida Coppi
- Department of Medical Parasitology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10010, United States of America
| | - Brandy L. Bennett
- Department of Medical Parasitology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10010, United States of America
| | - Elena Aime
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Medical Parasitology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10010, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Templeton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, United States of America
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Fernández-Álvaro E, Hong WD, Nixon GL, O’Neill PM, Calderón F. Antimalarial Chemotherapy: Natural Product Inspired Development of Preclinical and Clinical Candidates with Diverse Mechanisms of Action. J Med Chem 2016; 59:5587-603. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fernández-Álvaro
- Diseases of the Developing World, Tres
Cantos Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, c/Severo Ochoa, 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - W. David Hong
- Robert Robinson
Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Gemma L. Nixon
- Robert Robinson
Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Paul M. O’Neill
- Robert Robinson
Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Félix Calderón
- Diseases of the Developing World, Tres
Cantos Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, c/Severo Ochoa, 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Recombination and Diversification of the Variant Antigen Encoding Genes in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Microbiol Spectr 2016; 2. [PMID: 26104446 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.mdna3-0022-2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The most severe form of human malaria is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. These parasites invade and replicate within the circulating red blood cells of infected individuals leading to numerous disease manifestations, including severe anemia, altered circulation, and tissue inflammation. Malaria parasites are also known for their ability to maintain a chronic infection through antigenic variation, the ability to systematically alter the antigens displayed on the surface of infected cells and thereby avoid clearance by the host's antibody response. The genome of P. falciparum includes several large, multicopy gene families that encode highly variable forms of the surface proteins that are the targets of host immunity. Alterations in expression of genes within these families are responsible for antigenic variation. This process requires the continuous generation of new antigenic variants within these gene families, and studies have shown that new variants arise through extensive recombination and gene conversion events between family members. Malaria parasites possess an unusual complement of DNA repair pathways, thus the study of recombination between variant antigen encoding genes provides a unique view into the evolution of mobile DNA in an organism distantly related to the more closely studied model eukaryotes.
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is the protozoan parasite that causes most malaria-associated morbidity and mortality in humans with over 500,000 deaths annually. The disease symptoms are associated with repeated cycles of invasion and asexual multiplication inside red blood cells of the parasite. Partial, non-sterile immunity to P. falciparum malaria develops only after repeated infections and continuous exposure. The successful evasion of the human immune system relies on the large repertoire of antigenically diverse parasite proteins displayed on the red blood cell surface and on the merozoite membrane where they are exposed to the human immune system. Expression switching of these polymorphic proteins between asexual parasite generations provides an efficient mechanism to adapt to the changing environment in the host and to maintain chronic infection. This chapter discusses antigenic diversity and variation in the malaria parasite and our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms that direct the expression of these proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Petter
- Department of Medicine Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Michael F Duffy
- Department of Medicine Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Flannery EL, Wang T, Akbari A, Corey VC, Gunawan F, Bright AT, Abraham M, Sanchez JF, Santolalla ML, Baldeviano GC, Edgel KA, Rosales LA, Lescano AG, Bafna V, Vinetz JM, Winzeler EA. Next-Generation Sequencing of Plasmodium vivax Patient Samples Shows Evidence of Direct Evolution in Drug-Resistance Genes. ACS Infect Dis 2015; 1:367-79. [PMID: 26719854 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5b00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax, the parasite that causes the most widespread form of human malaria, is complicated by the lack of a suitable long-term cell culture system for this parasite. In contrast to P. falciparum, which can be more readily manipulated in the laboratory, insights about parasite biology need to be inferred from human studies. Here we analyze the genomes of parasites within 10 human P. vivax infections from the Peruvian Amazon. Using next-generation sequencing we show that some P. vivax infections analyzed from the region are likely polyclonal. Despite their polyclonality we observe limited parasite genetic diversity by showing that three or fewer haplotypes comprise 94% of the examined genomes, suggesting the recent introduction of parasites into this geographic region. In contrast we find more than three haplotypes in putative drug-resistance genes, including the gene encoding dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase and the P. vivax multidrug resistance associated transporter, suggesting that resistance mutations have arisen independently. Additionally, several drug-resistance genes are located in genomic regions with evidence of increased copy number. Our data suggest that whole genome sequencing of malaria parasites from patients may provide more insight about the evolution of drug resistance than genetic linkage or association studies, especially in geographical regions with limited parasite genetic diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Juan F. Sanchez
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Avenida Venezuela Cuadra 36 S/N, Centro Médico
Naval, Lima Callao 02, Peru
| | - Meddly L. Santolalla
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Avenida Venezuela Cuadra 36 S/N, Centro Médico
Naval, Lima Callao 02, Peru
| | - G. Christian Baldeviano
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Avenida Venezuela Cuadra 36 S/N, Centro Médico
Naval, Lima Callao 02, Peru
| | - Kimberly A. Edgel
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Avenida Venezuela Cuadra 36 S/N, Centro Médico
Naval, Lima Callao 02, Peru
| | - Luis A. Rosales
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Avenida Venezuela Cuadra 36 S/N, Centro Médico
Naval, Lima Callao 02, Peru
| | - Andrés G. Lescano
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Avenida Venezuela Cuadra 36 S/N, Centro Médico
Naval, Lima Callao 02, Peru
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Carlton JM, Volkman SK, Uplekar S, Hupalo DN, Alves JMP, Cui L, Donnelly M, Roos DS, Harb OS, Acosta M, Read A, Ribolla PEM, Singh OP, Valecha N, Wassmer SC, Ferreira M, Escalante AA. Population Genetics, Evolutionary Genomics, and Genome-Wide Studies of Malaria: A View Across the International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 93:87-98. [PMID: 26259940 PMCID: PMC4574278 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of the three protagonists in malaria-the Plasmodium parasite, the Anopheles mosquito, and the human host-is key to developing methods to control and eventually eliminate the disease. Genomic technologies, including the recent development of next-generation sequencing, enable interrogation of this triangle to an unprecedented level of scrutiny, and promise exciting progress toward real-time epidemiology studies and the study of evolutionary adaptation. We discuss the use of genomics by the International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research, a network of field sites and laboratories in malaria-endemic countries that undertake cutting-edge research, training, and technology transfer in malarious countries of the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jane M. Carlton
- *Address correspondence to Jane M. Carlton, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003. E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Murillo Solano C, Akinyi Okoth S, Abdallah JF, Pava Z, Dorado E, Incardona S, Huber CS, Macedo de Oliveira A, Bell D, Udhayakumar V, Barnwell JW. Deletion of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2 (pfhrp2) and Histidine-Rich Protein 3 (pfhrp3) Genes in Colombian Parasites. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131576. [PMID: 26151448 PMCID: PMC4494814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of studies have analyzed the performance of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in Colombia with discrepancies in performance being attributed to a combination of factors such as parasite levels, interpretation of RDT results and/or the handling and storage of RDT kits. However, some of the inconsistencies observed with results from Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2)-based RDTs could also be explained by the deletion of the gene that encodes the protein, pfhrp2, and its structural homolog, pfhrp3, in some parasite isolates. Given that pfhrp2- and pfhrp3-negative P. falciparum isolates have been detected in the neighboring Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon regions, we hypothesized that parasites with deletions of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 may also be present in Colombia. In this study we tested 100 historical samples collected between 1999 and 2009 from six Departments in Colombia for the presence of pfhrp2, pfhrp3 and their flanking genes. Seven neutral microsatellites were also used to determine the genetic background of these parasites. In total 18 of 100 parasite isolates were found to have deleted pfhrp2, a majority of which (14 of 18) were collected from Amazonas Department, which borders Peru and Brazil. pfhrp3 deletions were found in 52 of the100 samples collected from all regions of the country. pfhrp2 flanking genes PF3D7_0831900 and PF3D7_0831700 were deleted in 22 of 100 and in 1 of 100 samples, respectively. pfhrp3 flanking genes PF3D7_1372100 and PF3D7_1372400 were missing in 55 of 100 and in 57 of 100 samples. Structure analysis of microsatellite data indicated that Colombian samples tested in this study belonged to four clusters and they segregated mostly based on their geographic region. Most of the pfhrp2-deleted parasites were assigned to a single cluster and originated from Amazonas Department although a few pfhrp2-negative parasites originated from the other three clusters. The presence of a high proportion of pfhrp2-negative isolates in the Colombian Amazon may have implications for the use of PfHRP2-based RDTs in the region and may explain inconsistencies observed when PfHRP2-based tests and assays are performed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claribel Murillo Solano
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Carrera 125 #19–225 Av., La Maria, Cali, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| | - Sheila Akinyi Okoth
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Joseph F. Abdallah
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Zuleima Pava
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Carrera 125 #19–225 Av., La Maria, Cali, Colombia
| | - Erika Dorado
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Carrera 125 #19–225 Av., La Maria, Cali, Colombia
| | - Sandra Incardona
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Chemin des Mines, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Curtis S. Huber
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alexandre Macedo de Oliveira
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - David Bell
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Chemin des Mines, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
- Global Good Fund/Intellectual Ventures Lab, 1807 132 Ave NE, Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John W. Barnwell
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Akinyi Okoth S, Abdallah JF, Ceron N, Adhin MR, Chandrabose J, Krishnalall K, Huber CS, Goldman IF, Macedo de Oliveira A, Barnwell JW, Udhayakumar V. Variation in Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2 (Pfhrp2) and Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 3 (Pfhrp3) Gene Deletions in Guyana and Suriname. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126805. [PMID: 25978499 PMCID: PMC4433255 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Guyana and Suriname have made important progress in reducing the burden of malaria. While both countries use microscopy as the primary tool for clinical diagnosis, malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are useful in remote areas of the interior where laboratory support may be limited or unavailable. Recent reports indicate that histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2)-based diagnostic tests specific for detection of P. falciparum may provide false negative results in some parts of South America due to the emergence of P. falciparum parasites that lack the pfhrp2 gene, and thus produce no PfHRP2 antigen. Pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes were amplified in parasite isolates collected from Guyana and Suriname to determine if there were circulating isolates with deletions in these genes. Pfhrp3 deletions were monitored because some monoclonal antibodies utilized in PfHRP2-based RDTs cross-react with the PfHRP3 protein. We found that all 97 isolates from Guyana that met the inclusion criteria were both pfhrp2- and pfhrp3-positive. In Suriname (N = 78), 14% of the samples tested were pfhrp2-negative while 4% were pfhrp3-negative. Furthermore, analysis of the genomic region proximal to pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 revealed that genomic deletions extended to the flanking genes. We also investigated the population substructure of the isolates collected to determine if the parasites that had deletions of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 belonged to any genetic subtypes. Cluster analysis revealed that there was no predominant P. falciparum population substructure among the isolates from either country, an indication of genetic admixture among the parasite populations. Furthermore, the pfhrp2-deleted parasites from Suriname did not appear to share a single, unique genetic background.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Akinyi Okoth
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Joseph F. Abdallah
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nicolas Ceron
- Pan American Health Organization—Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana
| | - Malti R. Adhin
- Department of Biochemistry, Anton de Kom (ADEK) University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | | | | | - Curtis S. Huber
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ira F. Goldman
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alexandre Macedo de Oliveira
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John W. Barnwell
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yu X, Korkmaz T, Lilburn TG, Cai H, Gu J, Wang Y. Heavy path mining of protein-protein associations in the malaria parasite. Methods 2015; 83:63-70. [PMID: 25861922 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Annotating and understanding the function of proteins and other elements in a genome can be difficult in the absence of a well-studied and evolutionarily close relative. The causative agent of malaria, one of the oldest and most deadly global infectious diseases, is a good example of this problem. The burden of malaria is huge and there is a pressing need for new, more effective antimalarial strategies. However, techniques such as homology-dependent annotation transfer are severely impaired in this parasite because there are no well-understood close relatives. To circumvent this approach we developed a network-based method that uses a heavy path network-mining algorithm. We uncovered the protein-protein associations that are implicated in important cellular processes including genome integrity, DNA repair, transcriptional regulation, invasion, and pathogenesis, thus demonstrating the utility of this method. The URL of the source code for super-sequence mining method is http://www.cs.utsa.edu/~korkmaz/research/heavy-path-mining/.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Yu
- Department of Computer Science, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| | - Turgay Korkmaz
- Department of Computer Science, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| | | | - Hong Cai
- Department of Biology, South Texas for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| | - Jianying Gu
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Department of Biology, South Texas for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
In vitro antimalarial activity of novel semisynthetic nocathiacin I antibiotics. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:3174-9. [PMID: 25779576 DOI: 10.1128/aac.04294-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Presently, the arsenal of antimalarial drugs is limited and needs to be replenished. We evaluated the potential antimalarial activity of two water-soluble derivatives of nocathiacin (BMS461996 and BMS411886) against the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Nocathiacins are a thiazolyl peptide group of antibiotics, are structurally related to thiostrepton, have potent activity against a wide spectrum of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, and inhibit protein synthesis. The in vitro growth inhibition assay was done using three laboratory strains of P. falciparum displaying various levels of chloroquine (CQ) susceptibility. Our results indicate that BMS461996 has potent antimalarial activity and inhibits parasite growth with mean 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of 51.55 nM for P. falciparum 3D7 (CQ susceptible), 85.67 nM for P. falciparum Dd2 (accelerated resistance to multiple drugs [ARMD]), and 99.44 nM for P. falciparum K1 (resistant to CQ, pyrimethamine, and sulfadoxine). Similar results at approximately 7-fold higher IC50s were obtained with BMS411886 than with BMS461996. We also tested the effect of BMS491996 on gametocytes; our results show that at a 20-fold excess of the mean IC50, gametocytes were deformed with a pyknotic nucleus and growth of stage I to IV gametocytes was arrested. This preliminary study shows a significant potential for nocathiacin analogues to be developed as antimalarial drug candidates and to warrant further investigation.
Collapse
|
30
|
Tembo DL, Nyoni B, Murikoli RV, Mukaka M, Milner DA, Berriman M, Rogerson SJ, Taylor TE, Molyneux ME, Mandala WL, Craig AG, Montgomery J. Differential PfEMP1 expression is associated with cerebral malaria pathology. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004537. [PMID: 25473835 PMCID: PMC4256257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is unique among human malarias in its ability to sequester in post-capillary venules of host organs. The main variant antigens implicated are the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), which can be divided into three major groups (A–C). Our study was a unique examination of sequestered populations of parasites for genetic background and expression of PfEMP1 groups. We collected post-mortem tissue from twenty paediatric hosts with pathologically different forms of cerebral malaria (CM1 and CM2) and parasitaemic controls (PC) to directly examine sequestered populations of parasites in the brain, heart and gut. Use of two different techniques to investigate this question produced divergent results. By quantitative PCR, group A var genes were upregulated in all three organs of CM2 and PC cases. In contrast, in CM1 infections displaying high levels of sequestration but negligible vascular pathology, there was high expression of group B var. Cloning and sequencing of var transcript tags from the same samples indicated a uniformly low expression of group A-like var. Generally, within an organ sample, 1–2 sequences were expressed at dominant levels. 23% of var tags were detected in multiple patients despite the P. falciparum infections being genetically distinct, and two tags were observed in up to seven hosts each with high expression in the brains of 3–4 patients. This study is a novel examination of the sequestered parasites responsible for fatal cerebral malaria and describes expression patterns of the major cytoadherence ligand in three organ-derived populations and three pathological states. One of the most severe forms of malarial disease is cerebral malaria, which disproportionally affects young children. In this disease, the parasite places proteins on the red blood cell surface, providing a “smokescreen” by which they evade host immunity and hide in organ blood vessels, blocking them and causing tissue damage. It is impossible to study parasites in the organs during life and autopsy studies on children with malaria are exceedingly rare. In Malawi, we examined parasites from the brain, heart and intestine of twenty cases of fatal malaria including controls with low numbers of malaria parasites but another identified cause of death. We found little difference in the category of proteins the parasites used in controls and cerebral malaria, although a small number of specific proteins were detected in multiple infections. In an alternative form of malaria in which the brain is heavily infected but shows no evidence of damage, we found a different set of proteins at high proportion. However, as these children were typically older and most were infected with HIV, we could not determine which of these factors was most important. Interactions between host and parasite have the potential to influence disease outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dumizulu L. Tembo
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Nyoni
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Rekah V. Murikoli
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mavuto Mukaka
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Danny A. Milner
- Blantyre Malaria Project, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Pathogen Sequencing Unit, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Terrie E. Taylor
- Blantyre Malaria Project, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Malcolm E. Molyneux
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Wilson L. Mandala
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Alister G. Craig
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqui Montgomery
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Obaldia N, Baro NK, Calzada JE, Santamaria AM, Daniels R, Wong W, Chang HH, Hamilton EJ, Arevalo-Herrera M, Herrera S, Wirth DF, Hartl DL, Marti M, Volkman SK. Clonal outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum infection in eastern Panama. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:1087-96. [PMID: 25336725 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the source of resurgent parasites is paramount to a strategic, successful intervention for malaria elimination. Although the malaria incidence in Panama is low, a recent outbreak resulted in a 6-fold increase in reported cases. We hypothesized that parasites sampled from this epidemic might be related and exhibit a clonal population structure. We tested the genetic relatedness of parasites, using informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms and drug resistance loci. We found that parasites were clustered into 3 clonal subpopulations and were related to parasites from Colombia. Two clusters of Panamanian parasites shared identical drug resistance haplotypes, and all clusters shared a chloroquine-resistance genotype matching the pfcrt haplotype of Colombian origin. Our findings suggest these resurgent parasite populations are highly clonal and that the high clonality likely resulted from epidemic expansion of imported or vestigial cases. Malaria outbreak investigations that use genetic tools can illuminate potential sources of epidemic malaria and guide strategies to prevent further resurgence in areas where malaria has been eliminated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jose E Calzada
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama
| | - Ana M Santamaria
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama
| | - Rachel Daniels
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University
| | - Wesley Wong
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
| | | | | | - Myriam Arevalo-Herrera
- Centro de Investigación Científica Caucaseco/Centro Latino Americano de Investigación en Malaria, Cali, Colombia
| | - Socrates Herrera
- Centro de Investigación Científica Caucaseco/Centro Latino Americano de Investigación en Malaria, Cali, Colombia
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel L Hartl
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University
| | | | - Sarah K Volkman
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases Simmons College, Boston Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Plasmodium falciparum parasites lacking histidine-rich protein 2 and 3: a review and recommendations for accurate reporting. Malar J 2014; 13:283. [PMID: 25052298 PMCID: PMC4115471 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a critical role in malaria case management, surveillance and case investigations. Test performance is largely determined by design and quality characteristics, such as detection sensitivity, specificity, and thermal stability. However, parasite characteristics such as variable or absent expression of antigens targeted by RDTs can also affect RDT performance. Plasmodium falciparum parasites lacking the PfHRP2 protein, the most common target antigen for detection of P. falciparum, have been reported in some regions. Therefore, accurately mapping the presence and prevalence of P. falciparum parasites lacking pfhrp2 would be an important step so that RDTs targeting alternative antigens, or microscopy, can be preferentially selected for use in such regions. Herein the available evidence and molecular basis for identifying malaria parasites lacking PfHRP2 is reviewed, and a set of recommended procedures to apply for future investigations for parasites lacking PfHRP2, is proposed.
Collapse
|
33
|
Zhai B, Clark J, Ling T, Connelly M, Medina-Bolivar F, Rivas F. Antimalarial evaluation of the chemical constituents of hairy root culture of Bixa orellana L. Molecules 2014; 19:756-66. [PMID: 24406786 PMCID: PMC6271036 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19010756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Over 216 million malaria cases are reported annually worldwide and about a third of these cases, primarily children under the age of five years old, will not survive the infection. Despite this significant world health impact, only a limited number of therapeutic agents are currently available. The lack of scaffold diversity poses a threat in the event that multi-drug–resistant strains emerge. Terrestrial natural products have provided a major source of chemical diversity for starting materials in many FDA approved drugs over the past century. Bixa orellana L. is a popular plant used in South America for the treatment of malaria. In search of new potential therapeutic agents, the chemical constituents of a selected hairy root culture line of Bixa orellana L. were characterized utilizing NMR and mass spectrometry methods, followed by its biological evaluation against malaria strains 3D7 and K1. The crude extract and its isolated compounds demonstrated EC50 values in the micromolar range. Herein, we report our findings on the chemical constituents of Bixa orellana L. from hairy roots responsible for the observed antimalarial activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhai
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Julie Clark
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Taotao Ling
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Michele Connelly
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Fatima Rivas
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sander AF, Lavstsen T, Rask TS, Lisby M, Salanti A, Fordyce SL, Jespersen JS, Carter R, Deitsch KW, Theander TG, Pedersen AG, Arnot DE. DNA secondary structures are associated with recombination in major Plasmodium falciparum variable surface antigen gene families. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:2270-81. [PMID: 24253306 PMCID: PMC3936766 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens undergo antigenic variation to counter host immune defense mechanisms. In Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal of human malaria parasites, switching of var gene expression results in alternating expression of the adhesion proteins of the Plasmodium falciparum-erythrocyte membrane protein 1 class on the infected erythrocyte surface. Recombination clearly generates var diversity, but the nature and control of the genetic exchanges involved remain unclear. By experimental and bioinformatic identification of recombination events and genome-wide recombination hotspots in var genes, we show that during the parasite’s sexual stages, ectopic recombination between isogenous var paralogs occurs near low folding free energy DNA 50-mers and that these sequences are heavily concentrated at the boundaries of regions encoding individual Plasmodium falciparum-erythrocyte membrane protein 1 structural domains. The recombinogenic potential of these 50-mers is not parasite-specific because these sequences also induce recombination when transferred to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetic cross data suggest that DNA secondary structures (DSS) act as inducers of recombination during DNA replication in P. falciparum sexual stages, and that these DSS-regulated genetic exchanges generate functional and diverse P. falciparum adhesion antigens. DSS-induced recombination may represent a common mechanism for optimizing the evolvability of virulence gene families in pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building 22 & 23, PO Box 2099, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark, Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen K, Denmark, Department of Systems Biology, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloees Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark, Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, Scotland, UK and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Multiple genetic origins of histidine-rich protein 2 gene deletion in Plasmodium falciparum parasites from Peru. Sci Rep 2013; 3:2797. [PMID: 24077522 PMCID: PMC3786299 DOI: 10.1038/srep02797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) detect Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2), encoded by the pfhrp2 gene. Recently, P. falciparum isolates from Peru were found to lack pfhrp2 leading to false-negative RDT results. We hypothesized that pfhrp2-deleted parasites in Peru derived from a single genetic event. We evaluated the parasite population structure and pfhrp2 haplotype of samples collected between 1998 and 2005 using seven neutral and seven chromosome 8 microsatellite markers, respectively. Five distinct pfhrp2 haplotypes, corresponding to five neutral microsatellite-based clonal lineages, were detected in 1998-2001; pfhrp2 deletions occurred within four haplotypes. In 2003-2005, outcrossing among the parasite lineages resulted in eight population clusters that inherited the five pfhrp2 haplotypes seen previously and a new haplotype; pfhrp2 deletions occurred within four of these haplotypes. These findings indicate that the genetic origin of pfhrp2 deletion in Peru was not a single event, but likely occurred multiple times.
Collapse
|
36
|
Flannery EL, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA. Using genetic methods to define the targets of compounds with antimalarial activity. J Med Chem 2013; 56:7761-71. [PMID: 23927658 DOI: 10.1021/jm400325j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although phenotypic cellular screening has been used to drive antimalarial drug discovery in recent years, in some cases target-based drug discovery remains more attractive. This is especially true when appropriate high-throughput cellular assays are lacking, as is the case for drug discovery efforts that aim to provide a replacement for primaquine (4-N-(6-methoxyquinolin-8-yl)pentane-1,4-diamine), the only drug that can block Plasmodium transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes and eliminate liver-stage hypnozoites. At present, however, there are no known chemically validated parasite protein targets that are important in all Plasmodium parasite developmental stages and that can be used in traditional biochemical compound screens. We propose that a plethora of novel, chemically validated, cross-stage antimalarial targets still remain to be discovered from the ~5,500 proteins encoded by the Plasmodium genomes. Here we discuss how in vitro evolution of drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum and subsequent whole-genome analysis can be used to find the targets of some of the many compounds discovered in whole-cell phenotypic screens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika L Flannery
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , 9500 Gilman Drive 0741, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Rosenthal PJ. The interplay between drug resistance and fitness in malaria parasites. Mol Microbiol 2013; 89:1025-38. [PMID: 23899091 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Controlling the spread of antimalarial drug resistance, especially resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin-based combination therapies, is a high priority. Available data indicate that, as with other microorganisms, the spread of drug-resistant malaria parasites is limited by fitness costs that frequently accompany resistance. Resistance-mediating polymorphisms in malaria parasites have been identified in putative drug transporters and in target enzymes. The impacts of these polymorphisms on parasite fitness have been characterized in vitro and in animal models. Additional insights have come from analyses of samples from clinical studies, both evaluating parasites under different selective pressures and determining the clinical consequences of infection with different parasites. With some exceptions, resistance-mediating polymorphisms lead to malaria parasites that, compared with wild type, grow less well in culture and in animals, and are replaced by wild type when drug pressure diminishes in the clinical setting. In some cases, the fitness costs of resistance may be offset by compensatory mutations that increase virulence or changes that enhance malaria transmission. However, not enough is known about effects of resistance mediators on parasite fitness. A better appreciation of the costs of fitness-mediating mutations will facilitate the development of optimal guidelines for the treatment and prevention of malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Mitotic evolution of Plasmodium falciparum shows a stable core genome but recombination in antigen families. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003293. [PMID: 23408914 PMCID: PMC3567157 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites elude eradication attempts both within the human host and across nations. At the individual level, parasites evade the host immune responses through antigenic variation. At the global level, parasites escape drug pressure through single nucleotide variants and gene copy amplification events conferring drug resistance. Despite their importance to global health, the rates at which these genomic alterations emerge have not been determined. We studied the complete genomes of different Plasmodium falciparum clones that had been propagated asexually over one year in the presence and absence of drug pressure. A combination of whole-genome microarray analysis and next-generation deep resequencing (totaling 14 terabases) revealed a stable core genome with only 38 novel single nucleotide variants appearing in seventeen evolved clones (avg. 5.4 per clone). In clones exposed to atovaquone, we found cytochrome b mutations as well as an amplification event encompassing the P. falciparum multidrug resistance associated protein (mrp1) on chromosome 1. We observed 18 large-scale (>1 kb on average) deletions of telomere-proximal regions encoding multigene families, involved in immune evasion (9.5×10−6 structural variants per base pair per generation). Six of these deletions were associated with chromosomal crossovers generated during mitosis. We found only minor differences in rates between genetically distinct strains and between parasites cultured in the presence or absence of drug. Using these derived mutation rates for P. falciparum (1.0–9.7×10−9 mutations per base pair per generation), we can now model the frequency at which drug or immune resistance alleles will emerge under a well-defined set of assumptions. Further, the detection of mitotic recombination events in var gene families illustrates how multigene families can arise and change over time in P. falciparum. These results will help improve our understanding of how P. falciparum evolves to evade control efforts within both the individual hosts and large populations. Malaria is one of the six diseases that together are responsible for 90% of all infectious disease deaths throughout the world. The five species of Plasmodium that cause human malaria take over 655,000 lives each year. Parasites evade the immune response through antigenic variation and develop resistance to anti-malarial drugs through genetic changes in either the drug target or genes conferring resistance. We used whole-genome sequencing and microarray techniques to study evolution in P. falciparum parasites propagated in vitro for up to 180 generations. We determined the mutation rate and found that the core genome of a single clone is stable, while the subtelomeric regions are prone to acquire structural variants. These changes occur mainly in multigene families involved in immune evasion. Our findings indicate that the parasite specifically increases the sequence variability in multigene families through mitotic recombination. This high plasticity of the parasite genome suggests that multiple haplotypes will be present in a natural infection initiated by a single parasite.
Collapse
|
39
|
Cai H, Zhou Z, Gu J, Wang Y. Comparative Genomics and Systems Biology of Malaria Parasites Plasmodium.. Curr Bioinform 2012; 7. [PMID: 24298232 DOI: 10.2174/157489312803900965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a serious infectious disease that causes over one million deaths yearly. It is caused by a group of protozoan parasites in the genus Plasmodium. No effective vaccine is currently available and the elevated levels of resistance to drugs in use underscore the pressing need for novel antimalarial targets. In this review, we survey omics centered developments in Plasmodium biology, which have set the stage for a quantum leap in our understanding of the fundamental processes of the parasite life cycle and mechanisms of drug resistance and immune evasion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Cai
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lopez-Perez M, Villasis E, Machado RLD, Póvoa MM, Vinetz JM, Blair S, Gamboa D, Lustigman S. Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from South America use an atypical red blood cell invasion pathway associated with invasion ligand polymorphisms. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47913. [PMID: 23118907 PMCID: PMC3485327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of Plasmodium falciparum invasion pathways in field isolates have been limited. Red blood cell (RBC) invasion is a complex process involving two invasion protein families; Erythrocyte Binding-Like (EBL) and the Reticulocyte Binding-Like (PfRh) proteins, which are polymorphic and not fully characterized in field isolates. To determine the various P. falciparum invasion pathways used by parasite isolates from South America, we studied the invasion phenotypes in three regions: Colombia, Peru and Brazil. Additionally, polymorphisms in three members of the EBL (EBA-181, EBA-175 and EBL-1) and five members of the PfRh (PfRh1, PfRh2a, PfRh2b, PfRh4, PfRh5) families were determined. We found that most P. falciparum field isolates from Colombia and Peru invade RBCs through an atypical invasion pathway phenotypically characterized as resistant to all enzyme treatments (NrTrCr). Moreover, the invasion pathways and the ligand polymorphisms differed substantially among the Colombian and Brazilian isolates while the Peruvian isolates represent an amalgam of those present in the Colombian and Brazilian field isolates. The NrTrCr invasion profile was associated with the presence of the PfRh2a pepC variant, the PfRh5 variant 1 and EBA-181 RVNKN variant. The ebl and Pfrh expression levels in a field isolate displaying the NrTrCr profile also pointed to PfRh2a, PfRh5 and EBA-181 as being possibly the major players in this invasion pathway. Notably, our studies demonstrate the uniqueness of the Peruvian P. falciparum field isolates in terms of their invasion profiles and ligand polymorphisms, and present a unique opportunity for studying the ability of P. falciparum parasites to expand their invasion repertoire after being reintroduced to human populations. The present study is directly relevant to asexual blood stage vaccine design focused on invasion pathway proteins, suggesting that regional invasion variants and global geographical variation are likely to preclude a simple one size fits all type of vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Lopez-Perez
- Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Villasis
- Malaria Laboratory, Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt” Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Ricardo L. D. Machado
- Center for Microorganism Investigations, Department of Dermatology, Parasitic and Infectious Diseases, Medicine School in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Marinete M. Póvoa
- Seção de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Joseph M. Vinetz
- Malaria Laboratory, Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt” Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Silvia Blair
- Malaria Group, Sede de Investigación Universitaria, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Dionicia Gamboa
- Malaria Laboratory, Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt” Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York City, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Le Roch KG, Chung DWD, Ponts N. Genomics and integrated systems biology in Plasmodium falciparum: a path to malaria control and eradication. Parasite Immunol 2012; 34:50-60. [PMID: 21995286 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01340.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The first draft of the human malaria parasite's genome was released in 2002. Since then, the malaria scientific community has witnessed a steady embrace of new and powerful functional genomic studies. Over the years, these approaches have slowly revolutionized malaria research and enabled the comprehensive, unbiased investigation of various aspects of the parasite's biology. These genome-wide analyses delivered a refined annotation of the parasite's genome, delivered a better knowledge of its RNA, proteins and metabolite derivatives, and fostered the discovery of new vaccine and drug targets. Despite the positive impacts of these genomic studies, most research and investment still focus on protein targets, drugs and vaccine candidates that were known before the publication of the parasite genome sequence. However, recent access to next-generation sequencing technologies, along with an increased number of genome-wide applications, is expanding the impact of the parasite genome on biomedical research, contributing to a paradigm shift in research activities that may possibly lead to new optimized diagnosis and treatments. This review provides an update of Plasmodium falciparum genome sequences and an overview of the rapid development of genomics and system biology applications that have an immense potential of creating powerful tools for a successful malaria eradication campaign.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K G Le Roch
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California Riverside, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, and Center for Disease Vector Research, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Kosek M, Yori PP, Gilman RH, Calderon M, Zimic M, Chuquiyauri R, Jeri C, Pinedo-Cancino V, Matthias MA, Llanos-Cuentas A, Vinetz JM. High degree of Plasmodium vivax diversity in the Peruvian Amazon demonstrated by tandem repeat polymorphism analysis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 86:580-6. [PMID: 22492139 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular tools to distinguish strains of Plasmodium vivax are important for studying the epidemiology of malaria transmission. Two sets of markers-tandem repeat (TR) polymorphisms and MSP3α-were used to study Plasmodium vivax in patients in the Peruvian Amazon region of Iquitos. Of 110 patients, 90 distinct haplotypes were distinguished using 9 TR markers. An MSP3α polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using HhaI and AluI revealed 8 and 9 profiles, respectively, and 36 profiles when analyzed in combination. Combining TR and PCR-RFLP markers, 101 distinct molecular profiles were distinguished among these 110 patients. Nine TR markers arrayed along a 100 kB stretch of a P. vivax chromosome containing the gene for circumsporozoite protein showed non-linear linkage disequilibrium (I(SA) = 0.03, P = 0.001). These findings demonstrate the potential use of TR markers for molecular epidemiology studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Kosek
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Malaria is an important human disease and is the target of a global eradication campaign. New technological and informatics advancements in population genomics are being leveraged to identify genetic loci under selection in the malaria parasite and to find variants that are associated with key clinical phenotypes, such as drug resistance. This article provides a timely Review of how population-genetics-based strategies are being applied to Plasmodium falciparum both to identify genetic loci as key targets of interventions and to develop monitoring and surveillance tools that are crucial for the successful elimination and eradication of malaria.
Collapse
|
44
|
Inadequate efficacy of a new formulation of fosmidomycin-clindamycin combination in Mozambican children less than three years old with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:2923-8. [PMID: 22430959 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00018-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of fosmidomycin and clindamycin (F/C) is effective in adults and older children for the treatment of malaria and could be an important alternative to existing artemisinin-based combinations (ACTs) if proven to work in younger children. We conducted an open-label clinical trial to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of F/C for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Mozambican children <3 years of age. Aqueous solutions of the drugs were given for 3 days, and the children were followed up for 28 days. The primary outcome was the PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response at day 28. Secondary outcomes included day 7 and 28 uncorrected cure rates and fever (FCT) and parasite (PCT) clearance times. Fifty-two children were recruited, but only 37 patients were evaluable for the primary outcome. Day 7 cure rates were high (94.6%; 35/37), but the day 28 PCR-corrected cure rate was 45.9% (17/37). The FCT was short (median, 12 h), but the PCT was longer (median, 72 h) than in previous studies. Tolerability was good, and most common adverse events were related to the recurrence of malaria. The poor efficacy observed for the F/C combination may be a consequence of the new formulations used, differential bioavailability in younger children, naturally occurring variations in parasite sensitivity to the drugs, or an insufficient enhancement of their effects by naturally acquired immunity in young children. Additional studies should be conducted to respond to the many uncertainties arising from this trial, which should not discourage further evaluation of this promising combination.
Collapse
|
45
|
Nam TG, McNamara CW, Bopp S, Dharia NV, Meister S, Bonamy GMC, Plouffe DM, Kato N, McCormack S, Bursulaya B, Ke H, Vaidya AB, Schultz PG, Winzeler EA. A chemical genomic analysis of decoquinate, a Plasmodium falciparum cytochrome b inhibitor. ACS Chem Biol 2011; 6:1214-22. [PMID: 21866942 PMCID: PMC3220786 DOI: 10.1021/cb200105d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Decoquinate has single-digit nanomolar activity against in vitro blood stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites, the causative agent of human malaria. In vitro evolution of decoquinate-resistant parasites and subsequent comparative genomic analysis to the drug-sensitive parental strain revealed resistance was conferred by two nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding cytochrome b. The resultant amino acid mutations, A122T and Y126C, reside within helix C in the ubiquinol-binding pocket of cytochrome b, an essential subunit of the cytochrome bc1 complex. As with other cytochrome bc1 inhibitors, such as atovaquone, decoquinate has low nanomolar activity against in vitro liver stage P. yoelii and provides partial prophylaxis protection when administered to infected mice at 50 mg kg–1. In addition, transgenic parasites expressing yeast dihydroorotate dehydrogenase are >200-fold less sensitive to decoquinate, which provides additional evidence that this drug inhibits the parasite’s mitochondrial electron transport chain. Importantly, decoquinate exhibits limited cross-resistance to a panel of atovaquone-resistant parasites evolved to harbor various mutations in cytochrome b. The basis for this difference was revealed by molecular docking studies, in which both of these inhibitors were shown to have distinctly different modes of binding within the ubiquinol-binding site of cytochrome b.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Case W. McNamara
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | | | | | | | - Ghislain M. C. Bonamy
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - David M. Plouffe
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Nobutaka Kato
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Susan McCormack
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Badry Bursulaya
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Hangjun Ke
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, United States
| | - Akhil B. Vaidya
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, United States
| | - Peter G. Schultz
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
de Oliveira AM, Chavez J, de Leon GP, Durand S, Arrospide N, Roberts J, Cabezas C, Marquiño W. Efficacy and effectiveness of mefloquine and artesunate combination therapy for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Peruvian Amazon. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 85:573-8. [PMID: 21896825 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the efficacy and effectiveness of mefloquine (MQ) plus artesunate (AS) to treat patients with uncomplicated malaria in the Peruvian Amazon Basin in April 2005-March 2006. Patients ≥ 1 year of age with fever (axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C) or history of fever and Plasmodium falciparum monoinfection were included. Patients received antimalarial treatment with MQ (12.5 mg/kg/day for two days) and AS (4.0 mg/kg/day for three days) either by directly observed therapy or without directly observed therapy. After a 28-day follow-up, treatment efficacy and effectiveness were assessed on the basis of clinical and parasitologic outcomes. Ninety-six patients were enrolled in each study group; nine patients were lost to follow-up. All patients, except for one in the observed group, demonstrated adequate clinical and parasitologic response; none had detectable parasitemia on day 3. The efficacy of MQ + AS efficacy was 98.9% (95% confidence interval = 94.1-100.0%) and the effectiveness was 100.0% (95% confidence interval = 95.9-100.0%). Our study shows that MQ + AS is highly efficacious in the Peruvian Amazon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Macedo de Oliveira
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Protein translation in Plasmodium parasites. Trends Parasitol 2011; 27:467-76. [PMID: 21741312 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2011.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Revised: 05/13/2011] [Accepted: 05/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
48
|
Griffing SM, Mixson-Hayden T, Sridaran S, Alam MT, McCollum AM, Cabezas C, Marquiño Quezada W, Barnwell JW, Macedo De Oliveira A, Lucas C, Arrospide N, Escalante AA, Bacon DJ, Udhayakumar V. South American Plasmodium falciparum after the malaria eradication era: clonal population expansion and survival of the fittest hybrids. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23486. [PMID: 21949680 PMCID: PMC3174945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2011] [Accepted: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria has reemerged in many regions where once it was nearly eliminated. Yet the source of these parasites, the process of repopulation, their population structure, and dynamics are ill defined. Peru was one of malaria eradication's successes, where Plasmodium falciparum was nearly eliminated for two decades. It reemerged in the 1990s. In the new era of malaria elimination, Peruvian P. falciparum is a model of malaria reinvasion. We investigated its population structure and drug resistance profiles. We hypothesized that only populations adapted to local ecological niches could expand and repopulate and originated as vestigial populations or recent introductions. We investigated the genetic structure (using microsatellites) and drug resistant genotypes of 220 parasites collected from patients immediately after peak epidemic expansion (1999-2000) from seven sites across the country. The majority of parasites could be grouped into five clonal lineages by networks and AMOVA. The distribution of clonal lineages and their drug sensitivity profiles suggested geographic structure. In 2001, artesunate combination therapy was introduced in Peru. We tested 62 parasites collected in 2006-2007 for changes in genetic structure. Clonal lineages had recombined under selection for the fittest parasites. Our findings illustrate that local adaptations in the post-eradication era have contributed to clonal lineage expansion. Within the shifting confluence of drug policy and malaria incidence, populations continue to evolve through genetic outcrossing influenced by antimalarial selection pressure. Understanding the population substructure of P. falciparum has implications for vaccine, drug, and epidemiologic studies, including monitoring malaria during and after the elimination phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M. Griffing
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Tonya Mixson-Hayden
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sankar Sridaran
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Association of Public Health Laboratories, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Md Tauqeer Alam
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Andrea M. McCollum
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | | | - John W. Barnwell
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Alexandre Macedo De Oliveira
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Carmen Lucas
- Parasitology Program, Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Ananias A. Escalante
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - David J. Bacon
- Parasitology Program, Naval Medical Research Center Detachment, Lima, Peru
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ekland EH, Schneider J, Fidock DA. Identifying apicoplast-targeting antimalarials using high-throughput compatible approaches. FASEB J 2011; 25:3583-93. [PMID: 21746861 DOI: 10.1096/fj.11-187401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Malarial parasites have evolved resistance to all previously used therapies, and recent evidence suggests emerging resistance to the first-line artemisinins. To identify antimalarials with novel mechanisms of action, we have developed a high-throughput screen targeting the apicoplast organelle of Plasmodium falciparum. Antibiotics known to interfere with this organelle, such as azithromycin, exhibit an unusual phenotype whereby the progeny of drug-treated parasites die. Our screen exploits this phenomenon by assaying for "delayed death" compounds that exhibit a higher potency after two cycles of intraerythrocytic development compared to one. We report a primary assay employing parasites with an integrated copy of a firefly luciferase reporter gene and a secondary flow cytometry-based assay using a nucleic acid stain paired with a mitochondrial vital dye. Screening of the U.S. National Institutes of Health Clinical Collection identified known and novel antimalarials including kitasamycin. This inexpensive macrolide, used for agricultural applications, exhibited an in vitro IC(50) in the 50 nM range, comparable to the 30 nM activity of our control drug, azithromycin. Imaging and pharmacologic studies confirmed kitasamycin action against the apicoplast, and in vivo activity was observed in a murine malaria model. These assays provide the foundation for high-throughput campaigns to identify novel chemotypes for combination therapies to treat multidrug-resistant malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric H Ekland
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Piperaquine resistance is associated with a copy number variation on chromosome 5 in drug-pressured Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2011; 55:3908-16. [PMID: 21576453 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01793-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of piperaquine and dihydroartemisinin has recently become the official first-line therapy in several Southeast Asian countries. The pharmacokinetic mismatching of these drugs, whose plasma half-lives are ~20 days and ~1 h, respectively, implies that recrudescent or new infections emerging shortly after treatment cessation will encounter piperaquine as a monotherapy agent. This creates substantial selection pressure for the emergence of resistance. To elucidate potential resistance determinants, we subjected cloned Plasmodium falciparum Dd2 parasites to continuous piperaquine pressure in vitro (47 nM; ~2-fold higher than the Dd2 50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)]). The phenotype of outgrowth parasites was assayed in two clones, revealing an IC(50) against piperaquine of 2.1 μM and 1.7 μM, over 100-fold greater than that of the parent. To identify the genetic determinant of resistance, we employed comparative whole-genome hybridization analysis. Compared to the Dd2 parent, this analysis found (in both resistant clones) a novel single-nucleotide polymorphism in P. falciparum crt (pfcrt), deamplification of an 82-kb region of chromosome 5 (that includes pfmdr1), and amplification of an adjacent 63-kb region of chromosome 5. Continued propagation without piperaquine selection pressure resulted in "revertant" piperaquine-sensitive parasites. These retained the pfcrt polymorphism and further deamplified the chromosome 5 segment that encompasses pfmdr1; however, these two independently generated revertants both lost the neighboring 63-kb amplification. These results suggest that a copy number variation event on chromosome 5 (825600 to 888300) is associated with piperaquine resistance. Transgene expression studies are underway with individual genes in this segment to evaluate their contribution to piperaquine resistance.
Collapse
|