Trypanosomes change their transferrin receptor expression to allow effective uptake of host transferrin

The Trypanosomal Transferrin Receptor of Trypanosoma Brucei-A Review

Iron is an essential element for life. Its uptake and utility requires a careful balancing with its toxic capacity, with mammals evolving a safe and bio-viable means of its transport and storage. This transport and storage is also utilized as part of the iron-sequestration arsenal employed by the mammalian hosts’ ‘nutritional immunity’ against parasites. Interestingly, a key element of iron transport, i.e., serum transferrin (Tf), is an essential growth factor for parasitic haemo-protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma. These are major mammalian parasites causing the diseases human African trypanosomosis (HAT) and animal trypanosomosis (AT). Using components of their well-characterized immune evasion system, bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei parasites adapt and scavenge for the mammalian host serum transferrin within their broad host range. The expression site associated genes (ESAG6 and 7) are utilized to construct a heterodimeric serum Tf binding complex which, within its niche in the flagellar pocket, and coupled to the trypanosomes’ fast endocytic rate, allows receptor-mediated acquisition of essential iron from their environment. This review summarizes current knowledge of the trypanosomal transferrin receptor (TfR), with emphasis on the structure and function of the receptor, both in physiological conditions as well as in conditions where the iron supply to parasites is being limited. Potential applications using current knowledge of the parasite receptor are also briefly discussed, primarily focused on potential therapeutic interventions.

Dynamic regulation of the Trypanosoma brucei transferrin receptor in response to iron starvation is mediated via the 3'UTR

The bloodstream form of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei obtains iron from its mammalian host by receptor-mediated endocytosis of host transferrin through its own unique transferrin receptor (TbTfR). Expression of TbTfR rapidly increases upon iron starvation by post-transcriptional regulation through a currently undefined mechanism that is distinct from the mammalian iron response system. We have created reporter cell lines by fusing the TbTfR 3’UTR or a control Aldolase 3’UTR to reporter genes encoding GFP or firefly Luciferase, and inserted the fusions into a bloodstream form cell line at a tagged ribosomal RNA locus. Fusion of the TbTfR 3’UTR is sufficient to significantly repress the expression of the reporter proteins under normal growth conditions. Under iron starvation conditions we observed upregulation of the mRNA and protein level of the TbTfR 3’UTR fusions only, with a magnitude and timing consistent with that reported for upregulation of the TbTfR. We conclude that the dynamic regulation of the T. brucei transferrin receptor in response to iron starvation is mediated via its 3’UTR, and that the effect is independent of genomic location.

Evolution of Antigenic Variation in African Trypanosomes: Variant Surface Glycoprotein Expression, Structure, and Function

The process of antigenic variation in parasitic African trypanosomes is a remarkable mechanism for outwitting the immune system of the mammalian host, but it requires a delicate balancing act for the monoallelic expression, folding and transport of a single variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). Only one of hundreds of VSG genes is expressed at time, and this from just one of ≈15 dedicated expression sites. By switching expression of VSGs the parasite presents a continuously shifting antigenic facade leading to prolonged chronic infections lasting months to years. The basics of VSG structure and switching have been known for several decades, but recent studies have brought higher resolution to many aspects this process. New VSG structures, in silico modeling of infections, studies of VSG codon usage, and experimental ablation of VSG expression provide insights that inform how this remarkable system may have evolved.

Temperature shift activates bloodstream VSG expression site promoters in Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei relies on two types of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) expression sites (ESs) for RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcription of VSG pre-mRNA. Trypanosomes developing into infectious metacyclic cells in the tsetse vector use metacyclic VSG ESs (MESs) and proliferating parasites in the mammalian host deploy bloodstream VSG ESs (BESs). Unlike the monocistronic MESs, BESs are polycistronic and their highly conserved promoters differ considerably from the MES promoters. The significance of the divergent sequences of MES and BES promoters remains to be determined. We used a reporter system to specifically test the effect of temperature on the activity of MES and BES promoters in procyclic trypanosomes and our results demonstrate that transcription from the MES promoter is largely insensitive to changes in temperature. In contrast, the BES promoter drives rapid activation of transcription upon a change of temperature from 28 °C to 37 °C. Additionally, endogenous BESs respond similarly to the elevation of temperature and initiate increased production of BES pre-mRNA and mRNA. Our results indicate that the sequence of the BES promoter is a specificity signal which triggers BES activation in vivo upon entry into the mammalian host.

Recent advances in trypanosomatid research: genome organization, expression, metabolism, taxonomy and evolution

Unicellular flagellates of the family Trypanosomatidae are obligatory parasites of invertebrates, vertebrates and plants. Dixenous species are aetiological agents of a number of diseases in humans, domestic animals and plants. Their monoxenous relatives are restricted to insects. Because of the high biological diversity, adaptability to dramatically different environmental conditions, and omnipresence, these protists have major impact on all biotic communities that still needs to be fully elucidated. In addition, as these organisms represent a highly divergent evolutionary lineage, they are strikingly different from the common 'model system' eukaryotes, such as some mammals, plants or fungi. A number of excellent reviews, published over the past decade, were dedicated to specialized topics from the areas of trypanosomatid molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, host-parasite relationships or other aspects of these fascinating organisms. However, there is a need for a more comprehensive review that summarizing recent advances in the studies of trypanosomatids in the last 30 years, a task, which we tried to accomplish with the current paper.

Beyond immune escape: a variant surface glycoprotein causes suramin resistance in Trypanosoma brucei

Suramin is one of the first drugs developed in a medicinal chemistry program (Bayer, 1916), and it is still the treatment of choice for the hemolymphatic stage of African sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Cellular uptake of suramin occurs by endocytosis, and reverse genetic studies with T. b. brucei have linked downregulation of the endocytic pathway to suramin resistance. Here we show that forward selection for suramin resistance in T. brucei spp. cultures is fast, highly reproducible and linked to antigenic variation. Bloodstream-form trypanosomes are covered by a dense coat of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), which protects them from their mammalian hosts' immune defenses. Each T. brucei genome contains over 2000 different VSG genes, but only one is expressed at a time. An expression switch to one particular VSG, termed VSG^Sur , correlated with suramin resistance. Reintroduction of the originally expressed VSG gene in resistant T. brucei restored suramin susceptibility. This is the first report of a link between antigenic variation and drug resistance in African trypanosomes.

A quorum sensing-independent path to stumpy development in Trypanosoma brucei

For persistent infections of the mammalian host, African trypanosomes limit their population size by quorum sensing of the parasite-excreted stumpy induction factor (SIF), which induces development to the tsetse-infective stumpy stage. We found that besides this cell density-dependent mechanism, there exists a second path to the stumpy stage that is linked to antigenic variation, the main instrument of parasite virulence. The expression of a second variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) leads to transcriptional attenuation of the VSG expression site (ES) and immediate development to tsetse fly infective stumpy parasites. This path is independent of SIF and solely controlled by the transcriptional status of the ES. In pleomorphic trypanosomes varying degrees of ES-attenuation result in phenotypic plasticity. While full ES-attenuation causes irreversible stumpy development, milder attenuation may open a time window for rescuing an unsuccessful antigenic switch, a scenario that so far has not been considered as important for parasite survival.

DNA Recombination Strategies During Antigenic Variation in the African Trypanosome

Survival of the African trypanosome in its mammalian hosts has led to the evolution of antigenic variation, a process for evasion of adaptive immunity that has independently evolved in many other viral, bacterial and eukaryotic pathogens. The essential features of trypanosome antigenic variation have been understood for many years and comprise a dense, protective Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat, which can be changed by recombination-based and transcription-based processes that focus on telomeric VSG gene transcription sites. However, it is only recently that the scale of this process has been truly appreciated. Genome sequencing of Trypanosoma brucei has revealed a massive archive of >1000 VSG genes, the huge majority of which are functionally impaired but are used to generate far greater numbers of VSG coats through segmental gene conversion. This chapter will discuss the implications of such VSG diversity for immune evasion by antigenic variation, and will consider how this expressed diversity can arise, drawing on a growing body of work that has begun to examine the proteins and sequences through which VSG switching is catalyzed. Most studies of trypanosome antigenic variation have focused on T. brucei, the causative agent of human sleeping sickness. Other work has begun to look at antigenic variation in animal-infective trypanosomes, and we will compare the findings that are emerging, as well as consider how antigenic variation relates to the dynamics of host-trypanosome interaction.

Iron-associated biology of Trypanosoma brucei

BACKGROUND

Every eukaryote requires iron, which is also true for the parasitic protist Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. T. brucei undergoes a complex life cycle during which its single mitochondrion is subject to major metabolic and morphological changes.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

This review covers what is known about processes associated with iron-sulfur clusters and heme metabolism in T. brucei. We discuss strategies by which iron and heme are acquired and utilized by this model parasite, emphasizing the differences between its two life cycle stages residing in the bloodstream of the mammalian host and gut of the insect vector. Finally, the role of iron in the host-parasite interactions is discussed along with their possible exploitation in fighting these deadly parasites.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The processes associated with acquisition and utilization of iron, distinct in the two life stages of T. brucei, are fine tuned for the dramatically different host environment occupied by them. Although the composition and compartmentalization of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly seem to be conserved, some unique features of the iron acquisition strategies may be exploited for medical interventions against these parasites.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

As early-branching protists, trypanosomes and related flagellates are known to harbor an array of unique features, with the acquisition of iron being another peculiarity. Thanks to intense research within the last decade, understanding of iron-sulfur cluster assembly and iron metabolism in T. brucei is among the most advanced of all eukaryotes.

Iron Homeostasis and Trypanosoma brucei Associated Immunopathogenicity Development: A Battle/Quest for Iron

African trypanosomosis is a chronic debilitating disease affecting the health and economic well-being of developing countries. The immune response during African trypanosome infection consisting of a strong proinflammatory M1-type activation of the myeloid phagocyte system (MYPS) results in iron deprivation for these extracellular parasites. Yet, the persistence of M1-type MYPS activation causes the development of anemia (anemia of chronic disease, ACD) as a most prominent pathological parameter in the mammalian host, due to enhanced erythrophagocytosis and retention of iron within the MYPS thereby depriving iron for erythropoiesis. In this review we give an overview of how parasites acquire iron from the host and how iron modulation of the host MYPS affects trypanosomosis-associated anemia development. Finally, we also discuss different strategies at the level of both the host and the parasite that can/might be used to modulate iron availability during African trypanosome infections.

Adaptation of Trypanosoma rhodesiense to hypohaptoglobinaemic serum requires transcription of the APOL1 resistance gene in a RNA polymerase I locus

Human apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) kills African trypanosomes except Trypanosoma rhodesiense and Trypanosoma gambiense, the parasites causing sleeping sickness. APOL1 uptake into trypanosomes is favoured by its association with the haptoglobin-related protein-haemoglobin complex, which binds to the parasite surface receptor for haptoglobin-haemoglobin. As haptoglobin-haemoglobin can saturate the receptor, APOL1 uptake is increased in haptoglobin-poor (hypohaptoglobinaemic) serum (HyHS). While T. rhodesiense resists APOL1 by RNA polymerase I (pol-I)-mediated expression of the serum resistance-associated (SRA) protein, T. gambiense resists by pol-II-mediated expression of the T. gambiense-specific glycoprotein (TgsGP). Moreover, in T. gambiense resistance to HyHS is linked to haptoglobin-haemoglobin receptor inactivation by mutation. We report that unlike T. gambiense, T. rhodesiense possesses a functional haptoglobin-haemoglobin receptor, and that like T. gambiense experimentally provided with active receptor, this parasite is killed in HyHS because of receptor-mediated APOL1 uptake. However, T. rhodesiense could adapt to low haptoglobin by increasing transcription of SRA. When assayed in Trypanosoma brucei, resistance to HyHS occurred with pol-I-, but not with pol-II-mediated SRA expression. Similarly, T. gambiense provided with active receptor acquired resistance to HyHS only when TgsGP was moved to a pol-I locus. Thus, transcription by pol-I favours adaptive gene regulation, explaining the presence of SRA in a pol-I locus.

Cytosolic peroxidases protect the lysosome of bloodstream African trypanosomes from iron-mediated membrane damage

African trypanosomes express three virtually identical non-selenium glutathione peroxidase (Px)-type enzymes which preferably detoxify lipid-derived hydroperoxides. As shown previously, bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei lacking the mitochondrial Px III display only a weak and transient proliferation defect whereas parasites that lack the cytosolic Px I and Px II undergo extremely fast lipid peroxidation and cell lysis. The phenotype can completely be rescued by supplementing the medium with the α-tocopherol derivative Trolox. The mechanism underlying the rapid cell death remained however elusive. Here we show that the lysosome is the origin of the cellular injury. Feeding the px I–II knockout parasites with Alexa Fluor-conjugated dextran or LysoTracker in the presence of Trolox yielded a discrete lysosomal staining. Yet upon withdrawal of the antioxidant, the signal became progressively spread over the whole cell body and was completely lost, respectively. T. brucei acquire iron by endocytosis of host transferrin. Supplementing the medium with iron or transferrin induced, whereas the iron chelator deferoxamine and apo-transferrin attenuated lysis of the px I–II knockout cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy with MitoTracker and antibodies against the lysosomal marker protein p67 revealed that disintegration of the lysosome precedes mitochondrial damage. In vivo experiments confirmed the negligible role of the mitochondrial peroxidase: Mice infected with px III knockout cells displayed only a slightly delayed disease development compared to wild-type parasites. Our data demonstrate that in bloodstream African trypanosomes, the lysosome, not the mitochondrion, is the primary site of oxidative damage and cytosolic trypanothione/tryparedoxin-dependent peroxidases protect the lysosome from iron-induced membrane peroxidation. This process appears to be closely linked to the high endocytic rate and distinct iron acquisition mechanisms of the infective stage of T. brucei. The respective knockout of the cytosolic px I–II in the procyclic insect form resulted in cells that were fully viable in Trolox-free medium.

In many cell types, mitochondria are the main source of intracellular reactive oxygen species but iron-induced oxidative lysosomal damage has been described as well. African trypanosomes are the causative agents of human sleeping sickness and the cattle disease Nagana. The parasites are obligate extracellular pathogens that multiply in the bloodstream and body fluids of their mammalian hosts and as procyclic forms in their insect vector, the tsetse fly. Bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei in which the genes for cytosolic lipid hydroperoxide-detoxifying peroxidases have been knocked out undergo an extremely rapid membrane peroxidation and lyse within less than two hours when they are cultured without an exogenous antioxidant. Here we show that the primary site of intracellular damage is the single terminal lysosome of the parasites. Disintegration of the lysosome clearly precedes damage of the mitochondrion and parasite death. Iron, acquired by the endocytosis of iron-loaded host transferrin, induces cell lysis. Contrary to the cytosolic enzymes, the respective mitochondrial peroxidase is dispensable for both in vitro proliferation and mouse infectivity. This is the first report demonstrating that cytosolic thiol peroxidases are responsible for protecting the lysosome of a cell.

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense adaptation to different mammalian sera is associated with VSG expression site plasticity

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection is widely considered an anthroponosis, although it has also been found in wild and domestic animals. Thus, fauna could act as reservoir, constraining the elimination of the parasite in hypo-endemic foci. To better understand the possible maintenance of T. b. gambiense in local fauna and investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation, we generated adapted cells lines (ACLs) by in vitro culture of the parasites in different mammalian sera. Using specific antibodies against the Variant Surface Glycoproteins (VSGs) we found that serum ACLs exhibited different VSG variants when maintained in pig, goat or human sera. Although newly detected VSGs were independent of the sera used, the consistent appearance of different VSGs suggested remodelling of the co-transcribed genes at the telomeric Expression Site (VSG-ES). Thus, Expression Site Associated Genes (ESAGs) sequences were analysed to investigate possible polymorphism selection. ESAGs 6 and 7 genotypes, encoding the transferrin receptor (TfR), expressed in different ACLs were characterised. In addition, we quantified the ESAG6/7 mRNA levels and analysed transferrin (Tf) uptake. Interestingly, the best growth occurred in pig and human serum ACLs, which consistently exhibited a predominant ESAG7 genotype and higher Tf uptake than those obtained in calf and goat sera. We also detected an apparent selection of specific ESAG3 genotypes in the pig and human serum ACLs, suggesting that other ESAGs could be involved in the host adaptation processes. Altogether, these results suggest a model whereby VSG-ES remodelling allows the parasite to express a specific set of ESAGs to provide selective advantages in different hosts. Finally, pig serum ACLs display phenotypic adaptation parameters closely related to human serum ACLs but distinct to parasites grown in calf and goat sera. These results suggest a better suitability of swine to maintain T. b. gambiense infection supporting previous epidemiological results.

Evidence that transport of iron from the lysosome to the cytosol in African trypanosomes is mediated by a mucolipin orthologue

Bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei acquire iron by receptor-mediated endocytosis of host transferrin. However, the mechanism(s) by which iron is then transferred from the lysosome to the cytosol are unresolved. Here, we provide evidence for the involvement of a protein (TbMLP) orthologous to the mammalian endolysosomal cation channel Mucolipin 1. In T. brucei, we show that this protein is localized to the single parasite lysosome. TbMLP null mutants could only be generated in the presence of an expressed ectopic copy, suggesting that the protein is essential. RNAi-mediated ablation resulted in a growth defect in vitro and led to a sevenfold increase in susceptibility to the iron-chelators deferoxamine and salicylhydroxamic acid. Conditional null mutants remained viable when the ectopic copy was repressed, but were hypersensitive to deferoxamine and displayed a growth defect similar to that observed following RNAi. The conditional nulls also retained virulence in vivo in the absence of the doxycycline inducer. These data provide strong evidence that TbMLP has a role in import of iron into the cytosol of African trypanosomes. They also indicate that even when expression is greatly reduced, there is sufficient protein, or an alternative mechanism, to provide the parasite with an adequate supply of cytosolic iron.

Modeling of the N-glycosylated transferrin receptor suggests how transferrin binding can occur within the surface coat of Trypanosoma brucei

The transferrin receptor of bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei is a heterodimer encoded by expression site associated genes 6 and 7. This low-abundance glycoprotein with a single glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchor and eight potential N-glycosylation sites is located in the flagellar pocket. The receptor is essential for the parasite, providing its only source of iron by scavenging host transferrin from the bloodstream. Here, we demonstrate that both receptor subunits contain endoglycosidase H-sensitive and endoglycosidase H-resistant N-glycans. Lectin blotting of the purified receptor and structural analysis of the released N-glycans revealed oligomannose and paucimannose structures but, contrary to previous suggestions, no poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures were found. Overlay experiments suggest that the receptor can bind to other trypanosome glycoproteins, which may explain this discrepancy. Nevertheless, these data suggest that a current model, in which poly-N-acetyllactosamine glycans are directly involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei, should be revised. Sequential endoglycosidase H and peptide-N-glycosidase F treatment, followed by tryptic peptide analysis, allowed the mapping of oligomannose and paucimannose structures to four of the receptor N-glycosylation sites. These results are discussed with respect to the current model for protein N-glycosylation in the parasite. Finally, the glycosylation data allowed the creation of a molecular model for the parasite transferrin receptor. This model, when placed in the context of a model for the dense variant surface glycoprotein coat in which it is embedded, suggests that receptor N-glycosylation may play an important role in providing sufficient space for the approach and binding of transferrin to the receptor, without significantly disrupting the continuity of the protective variant surface glycoprotein coat.

The tsetse fly transmitted parasite that causes human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, scavenges iron from the bloodstream of the infected individual so that it can live, multiply and ultimately cause disease. To do this, it places a glycoprotein (a protein with carbohydrate chains attached) called the transferrin receptor on its surface to capture circulating human transferrin, an iron transport protein. It then internalizes transferrin receptor/transferrin complex and digests the transferrin part, releasing the iron for its own use. By analyzing the parasite transferrin receptor, we have been able to describe the carbohydrate chains of the transferrin receptor and thus complete a molecular model of this important glycoprotein. We have further built models of how we expect this low abundance glycoprotein will sit in the surface coat of the parasite, which is made of millions of copies of another glycoprotein. The results provide a ‘molecule's eye view’ of how the carbohydrate chains of the transferrin receptor provide the space necessary for the transferrin to bind to it without disrupting the protective coat.

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Trypanosoma evansi from dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Egypt, a pilot study

Animal trypanosomiasis is one of the major constraints of livestock industry in developing countries. In the present study, prevalence of Trypanosome evansi was assessed in the blood of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) brought to Al Bassatein abattoir, Cairo, Egypt, by mouse inoculation test out of 84 tested camels, 4 animals (4.7%) were infected. Molecular analysis was achieved by PCR amplification and sequence analysis of part of ribosomal RNA gene including 18S, ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 regions. Despite the conserved nature of 18S region, ITS region showed obvious heterogeneity compared to analogous sequences in database. Analysis of transferrin receptor encoding gene (ESAG6) showed variable repertoire in the studied isolates, which may indicate to a novel structure of T. evansi population from Egypt and/or a difference in host range. Furthermore, analysis of variable surface glycoprotein RoTat 1.2 gene marker revealed some heterogeneity at this gene locus. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular analysis of T. evansi in Egypt.

Iron metabolism in trypanosomatids, and its crucial role in infection

Iron is almost ubiquitous in living organisms due to the utility of its redox chemistry. It is also dangerous as it can catalyse the formation of reactive free radicals - a classical double-edged sword. In this review, we examine the uptake and usage of iron by trypanosomatids and discuss how modulation of host iron metabolism plays an important role in the protective response. Trypanosomatids require iron for crucial processes including DNA replication, antioxidant defence, mitochondrial respiration, synthesis of the modified base J and, in African trypanosomes, the alternative oxidase. The source of iron varies between species. Bloodstream-form African trypanosomes acquire iron from their host by uptake of transferrin, and Leishmania amazonensis expresses a ZIP family cation transporter in the plasma membrane. In other trypanosomatids, iron uptake has been poorly characterized. Iron-withholding responses by the host can be a major determinant of disease outcome. Their role in trypanosomatid infections is becoming apparent. For example, the cytosolic sequestration properties of NRAMP1, confer resistance against leishmaniasis. Conversely, cytoplasmic sequestration of iron may be favourable rather than detrimental to Trypanosoma cruzi. The central role of iron in both parasite metabolism and the host response is attracting interest as a possible point of therapeutic intervention.

Iron trafficking as an antimicrobial target

Iron is essential for the survival of most organisms. Microbial iron acquisition depends on multiple, sometimes complex steps, many of which are not shared by higher eukaryotes. Depriving pathogenic microbes of iron is therefore a potential antimicrobial strategy. The following minireview briefly describes general elements in microbial iron uptake pathways and summarizes some of the current work aiming at their medicinal inhibition.

Telomeric expression sites are highly conserved in Trypanosoma brucei

Subtelomeric regions are often under-represented in genome sequences of eukaryotes. One of the best known examples of the use of telomere proximity for adaptive purposes are the bloodstream expression sites (BESs) of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei. To enhance our understanding of BES structure and function in host adaptation and immune evasion, the BES repertoire from the Lister 427 strain of T. brucei were independently tagged and sequenced. BESs are polymorphic in size and structure but reveal a surprisingly conserved architecture in the context of extensive recombination. Very small BESs do exist and many functioning BESs do not contain the full complement of expression site associated genes (ESAGs). The consequences of duplicated or missing ESAGs, including ESAG9, a newly named ESAG12, and additional variant surface glycoprotein genes (VSGs) were evaluated by functional assays after BESs were tagged with a drug-resistance gene. Phylogenetic analysis of constituent ESAG families suggests that BESs are sequence mosaics and that extensive recombination has shaped the evolution of the BES repertoire. This work opens important perspectives in understanding the molecular mechanisms of antigenic variation, a widely used strategy for immune evasion in pathogens, and telomere biology.

A parasite cysteine protease is key to host protein degradation and iron acquisition

Cysteine proteases of the Clan CA (papain) family are the predominant protease group in primitive invertebrates. Cysteine protease inhibitors arrest infection by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma brucei. RNA interference studies implicated a cathepsin B-like protease, tbcatB, as a key inhibitor target. Utilizing parasites in which one of the two alleles of tbcatb has been deleted, the key role of this protease in degradation of endocytosed host proteins is delineated. TbcatB deficiency results in a decreased growth rate and dysmorphism of the flagellar pocket and the subjacent endocytic compartment. Western blot and microscopic analysis indicate that deficiency in tbcatB results in accumulation of both host and parasite proteins, including the lysosomal marker p67. A critical function for parasitism is the degradation of host transferrin, which is necessary for iron acquisition. Substrate specificity analysis of recombinant tbcatB revealed the optimal peptide cleavage sequences for the enzyme and these were confirmed experimentally using FRET-based substrates. Degradation of transferrin was validated by SDS-PAGE and the specific cleavage sites identified by N-terminal sequencing. Because even a modest deficiency in tbcatB is lethal for the parasite, tbcatB is a logical target for the development of new anti-trypanosomal chemotherapy.

Probing enzymes late in the trypanosomal glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthetic pathway with synthetic glycosylphosphatidylinositol analogues

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins are abundant in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness in humans and the related disease Nagana in cattle, and disruption of GPI biosynthesis is genetically and chemically validated as a drug target. Here, we examine the ability of enzymes of the trypanosomal GPI biosynthetic pathway to recognize and process a series of synthetic dimannosyl-glucosaminylphosphatidylinositol analogues containing systematic modifications on the mannose residues. The data reveal which portions of the natural substrate are important for recognition, explain why mannosylation occurs prior to inositol acylation in the trypanosomal pathway, and identify the first inhibitor of the third alpha-mannosyltransferase of the GPI biosynthetic pathway.

In vitro generation of human high-density-lipoprotein-resistant Trypanosoma brucei brucei

The host range of African trypanosomes is influenced by innate protective molecules in the blood of primates. A subfraction of human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) containing apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein L-I, and haptoglobin-related protein is toxic to Trypanosoma brucei brucei but not the human sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. It is thought that T. b. rhodesiense evolved from a T. b. brucei-like ancestor and expresses a defense protein that ablates the antitrypanosomal activity of human HDL. To directly investigate this possibility, we developed an in vitro selection to generate human HDL-resistant T. b. brucei. Here we show that conversion of T. b. brucei from human HDL sensitive to resistant correlates with changes in the expression of the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) and abolished uptake of the cytotoxic human HDLs. Complete transcriptome analysis of the HDL-susceptible and -resistant trypanosomes confirmed that VSG switching had occurred but failed to reveal the expression of other genes specifically associated with human HDL resistance, including the serum resistance-associated gene (SRA) of T. b. rhodesiense. In addition, we found that while the original active expression site was still utilized, expression of three expression site-associated genes (ESAG) was altered in the HDL-resistant trypanosomes. These findings demonstrate that resistance to human HDLs can be acquired by T. b. brucei.

On the significance of host antibody response to the Trypanosoma brucei transferrin receptor during chronic infection

The transferrin (Tf) receptor of Trypanosoma brucei (TbTfR) is encoded by two expression-site-associated genes, ESAG6 and ESAG7. There are around 20 different expression sites containing different copies of these genes that encode TbTfRs with quite distinct affinities for Tf of various hosts. It was proposed that T. brucei has developed multiple expression sites encoding different TbTfRs to ensure sufficient iron uptake in the presence of antibodies competing for binding to Tf. Here it is shown that anti-TbTfR antibody titres produced during chronic murine trypanosomiasis are only one-tenth of those achieved by immunisation of mice using recombinant TbTfR. Calculations indicate that the concentrations of competing anti-TbTfR antibodies present during chronic T. brucei infection are too low to deprive the parasite of iron. In addition, during human African trypanosomiasis the antibody response to the TbTfR seems to be poor and transient. Altogether, the results suggest that the host antibody response to the TbTfR during chronic infection with T. brucei is too low, if present at all, to prevent sufficient iron uptake by bloodstream forms to promote their growth.

Extreme sequence divergence but conserved ligand-binding specificity in Streptococcus pyogenes M protein

Many pathogenic microorganisms evade host immunity through extensive sequence variability in a protein region targeted by protective antibodies. In spite of the sequence variability, a variable region commonly retains an important ligand-binding function, reflected in the presence of a highly conserved sequence motif. Here, we analyze the limits of sequence divergence in a ligand-binding region by characterizing the hypervariable region (HVR) of Streptococcus pyogenes M protein. Our studies were focused on HVRs that bind the human complement regulator C4b-binding protein (C4BP), a ligand that confers phagocytosis resistance. A previous comparison of C4BP-binding HVRs identified residue identities that could be part of a binding motif, but the extended analysis reported here shows that no residue identities remain when additional C4BP-binding HVRs are included. Characterization of the HVR in the M22 protein indicated that two relatively conserved Leu residues are essential for C4BP binding, but these residues are probably core residues in a coiled-coil, implying that they do not directly contribute to binding. In contrast, substitution of either of two relatively conserved Glu residues, predicted to be solvent-exposed, had no effect on C4BP binding, although each of these changes had a major effect on the antigenic properties of the HVR. Together, these findings show that HVRs of M proteins have an extraordinary capacity for sequence divergence and antigenic variability while retaining a specific ligand-binding function.

Many pathogens have evolved mechanisms to evade host immunity. In one such mechanism, the sequence of a surface protein varies among different strains of a pathogen. This sequence variability represents an apparent paradox, because the variable protein must retain an important function. The authors studied this problem in Streptococcus pyogenes, a major human pathogen. The surface-localized M protein of this bacterium varies extensively in sequence between bacterial strains, allowing immune escape. Nevertheless, the most variable part of the M protein commonly binds a human plasma protein. By hijacking this human protein the bacteria evade attack by complement an important part of the innate immune system. Comparison of the ligand-binding region in different M proteins showed that these regions lack a shared amino acid sequence motif. Thus, a variable protein can retain a ligand-binding function in the absence of a conserved binding motif. Evidence is also presented that a single amino acid change in the variable region may cause a major antigenic change, providing a selective advantage for the bacteria. Together, these data bear witness to the extraordinary ability of pathogens to escape host immunity, without losing ability to cause disease.