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Mohammed M, Dziedziech A, Macedo D, Huppertz F, Veith Y, Postel Z, Christ E, Scheytt R, Slotte T, Henriksson J, Ankarklev J. Single-cell transcriptomics reveal transcriptional programs underlying male and female cell fate during Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7177. [PMID: 39187486 PMCID: PMC11347709 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51201-3] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum life cycle includes obligate transition between a human and mosquito host. Gametocytes are responsible for transmission from the human to the mosquito vector where gamete fusion followed by meiosis occurs. To elucidate how male and female gametocytes differentiate in the absence of sex chromosomes, we perform FACS-based cell enrichment of a P. falciparum gametocyte reporter line followed by single-cell RNA-seq. In our analyses we define the transcriptional programs and predict candidate driver genes underlying male and female development, including genes from the ApiAP2 family of transcription factors. A motif-driven, gene regulatory network analysis indicates that AP2-G5 specifically modulates male development. Additionally, genes linked to the inner membrane complex, involved in morphological changes, are uniquely expressed in the female lineage. The transcriptional programs of male and female development detailed herein allow for further exploration of the evolution of sex in eukaryotes and provide targets for future development of transmission blocking therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubasher Mohammed
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Alexis Dziedziech
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Global Health, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Docteur Roux, Paris, France
| | - Diego Macedo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Frederik Huppertz
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ylva Veith
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zoé Postel
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elena Christ
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Richard Scheytt
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tanja Slotte
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Henriksson
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Integrated Science Lab, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johan Ankarklev
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Microbial Single Cell Genomics Facility, SciLifeLab, Biomedical Center (BMC) Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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2
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King LDW, Pulido D, Barrett JR, Davies H, Quinkert D, Lias AM, Silk SE, Pattinson DJ, Diouf A, Williams BG, McHugh K, Rodrigues A, Rigby CA, Strazza V, Suurbaar J, Rees-Spear C, Dabbs RA, Ishizuka AS, Zhou Y, Gupta G, Jin J, Li Y, Carnrot C, Minassian AM, Campeotto I, Fleishman SJ, Noe AR, MacGill RS, King CR, Birkett AJ, Soisson LA, Long CA, Miura K, Ashfield R, Skinner K, Howarth MR, Biswas S, Draper SJ. Preclinical development of a stabilized RH5 virus-like particle vaccine that induces improved antimalarial antibodies. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101654. [PMID: 39019011 PMCID: PMC11293324 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101654] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (RH5) is a leading blood-stage malaria vaccine antigen target, currently in a phase 2b clinical trial as a full-length soluble protein/adjuvant vaccine candidate called RH5.1/Matrix-M. We identify that disordered regions of the full-length RH5 molecule induce non-growth inhibitory antibodies in human vaccinees and that a re-engineered and stabilized immunogen (including just the alpha-helical core of RH5) induces a qualitatively superior growth inhibitory antibody response in rats vaccinated with this protein formulated in Matrix-M adjuvant. In parallel, bioconjugation of this immunogen, termed "RH5.2," to hepatitis B surface antigen virus-like particles (VLPs) using the "plug-and-display" SpyTag-SpyCatcher platform technology also enables superior quantitative antibody immunogenicity over soluble protein/adjuvant in vaccinated mice and rats. These studies identify a blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate that may improve upon the current leading soluble protein vaccine candidate RH5.1/Matrix-M. The RH5.2-VLP/Matrix-M vaccine candidate is now under evaluation in phase 1a/b clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd D W King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - David Pulido
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Jordan R Barrett
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Hannah Davies
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Amelia M Lias
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah E Silk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - David J Pattinson
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Ababacar Diouf
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Barnabas G Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Kirsty McHugh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Ana Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Cassandra A Rigby
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Veronica Strazza
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Jonathan Suurbaar
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Accra LG 54, Ghana
| | - Chloe Rees-Spear
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT London, UK
| | - Rebecca A Dabbs
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew S Ishizuka
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Yu Zhou
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Jing Jin
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | | | - Angela M Minassian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Ivan Campeotto
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Sarel J Fleishman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amy R Noe
- Leidos Life Sciences, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Randall S MacGill
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - C Richter King
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Ashley J Birkett
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | | | - Carole A Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID/NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Rebecca Ashfield
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Katherine Skinner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Mark R Howarth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Sumi Biswas
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, OX3 7DQ Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.
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3
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McConville R, Krol JMM, Steel RWJ, O’Neill MT, Davey BK, Hodder AN, Nebl T, Cowman AF, Kneteman N, Boddey JA. Flp/ FRT-mediated disruption of ptex150 and exp2 in Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites inhibits liver-stage development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403442121. [PMID: 38968107 PMCID: PMC11252984 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403442121] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes severe malaria and assembles a protein translocon (PTEX) complex at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) of infected erythrocytes, through which several hundred proteins are exported to facilitate growth. The preceding liver stage of infection involves growth in a hepatocyte-derived PVM; however, the importance of protein export during P. falciparum liver infection remains unexplored. Here, we use the FlpL/FRT system to conditionally excise genes in P. falciparum sporozoites for functional liver-stage studies. Disruption of PTEX members ptex150 and exp2 did not affect sporozoite development in mosquitoes or infectivity for hepatocytes but attenuated liver-stage growth in humanized mice. While PTEX150 deficiency reduced fitness on day 6 postinfection by 40%, EXP2 deficiency caused 100% loss of liver parasites, demonstrating that PTEX components are required for growth in hepatocytes to differing degrees. To characterize PTEX loss-of-function mutations, we localized four liver-stage Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) proteins. P. falciparum liver specific protein 2 (LISP2), liver-stage antigen 3 (LSA3), circumsporozoite protein (CSP), and a Plasmodium berghei LISP2 reporter all localized to the periphery of P. falciparum liver stages but were not exported beyond the PVM. Expression of LISP2 and CSP but not LSA3 was reduced in ptex150-FRT and exp2-FRT liver stages, suggesting that expression of some PEXEL proteins is affected directly or indirectly by PTEX disruption. These results show that PTEX150 and EXP2 are important for P. falciparum development in hepatocytes and emphasize the emerging complexity of PEXEL protein trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn McConville
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Jelte M. M. Krol
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Ryan W. J. Steel
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Matthew T. O’Neill
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Bethany K. Davey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Anthony N. Hodder
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Thomas Nebl
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Norman Kneteman
- Departments of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, ABT6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Justin A. Boddey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
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4
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Dans MG, Boulet C, Watson GM, Nguyen W, Dziekan JM, Evelyn C, Reaksudsan K, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Mlodzianoski MJ, Goodman CD, Ling DB, Jonsdottir TK, Tong J, Famodimu MT, Kristan M, Pollard H, Stewart LB, Brandner-Garrod L, Sutherland CJ, Delves MJ, McFadden GI, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Rogers KL, Cowman AF, Tham WH, Sleebs BE, Gilson PR. Aryl amino acetamides prevent Plasmodium falciparum ring development via targeting the lipid-transfer protein PfSTART1. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5219. [PMID: 38890312 PMCID: PMC11189555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
With resistance to most antimalarials increasing, it is imperative that new drugs are developed. We previously identified an aryl acetamide compound, MMV006833 (M-833), that inhibited the ring-stage development of newly invaded merozoites. Here, we select parasites resistant to M-833 and identify mutations in the START lipid transfer protein (PF3D7_0104200, PfSTART1). Introducing PfSTART1 mutations into wildtype parasites reproduces resistance to M-833 as well as to more potent analogues. PfSTART1 binding to the analogues is validated using organic solvent-based Proteome Integral Solubility Alteration (Solvent PISA) assays. Imaging of invading merozoites shows the inhibitors prevent the development of ring-stage parasites potentially by inhibiting the expansion of the encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane. The PfSTART1-targeting compounds also block transmission to mosquitoes and with multiple stages of the parasite's lifecycle being affected, PfSTART1 represents a drug target with a new mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Coralie Boulet
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1206, Switzerland
| | - Gabrielle M Watson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - William Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jerzy M Dziekan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cindy Evelyn
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kitsanapong Reaksudsan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Somya Mehra
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Niall D Geoghegan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael J Mlodzianoski
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | | | | | - Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden
- The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Joshua Tong
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Mufuliat Toyin Famodimu
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT, London, UK
| | - Mojca Kristan
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Harry Pollard
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Lindsay B Stewart
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Luke Brandner-Garrod
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Colin J Sutherland
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT, London, UK
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Michael J Delves
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT, London, UK
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Alyssa E Barry
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Monash University, 3800, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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5
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Farrell B, Alam N, Hart MN, Jamwal A, Ragotte RJ, Walters-Morgan H, Draper SJ, Knuepfer E, Higgins MK. The PfRCR complex bridges malaria parasite and erythrocyte during invasion. Nature 2024; 625:578-584. [PMID: 38123677 PMCID: PMC10794152 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06856-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The symptoms of malaria occur during the blood stage of infection, when parasites invade and replicate within human erythrocytes. The PfPCRCR complex1, containing PfRH5 (refs. 2,3), PfCyRPA, PfRIPR, PfCSS and PfPTRAMP, is essential for erythrocyte invasion by the deadliest human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Invasion can be prevented by antibodies3-6 or nanobodies1 against each of these conserved proteins, making them the leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidates. However, little is known about how PfPCRCR functions during invasion. Here we present the structure of the PfRCR complex7,8, containing PfRH5, PfCyRPA and PfRIPR, determined by cryogenic-electron microscopy. We test the hypothesis that PfRH5 opens to insert into the membrane9, instead showing that a rigid, disulfide-locked PfRH5 can mediate efficient erythrocyte invasion. We show, through modelling and an erythrocyte-binding assay, that PfCyRPA-binding antibodies5 neutralize invasion through a steric mechanism. We determine the structure of PfRIPR, showing that it consists of an ordered, multidomain core flexibly linked to an elongated tail. We also show that the elongated tail of PfRIPR, which is the target of growth-neutralizing antibodies6, binds to the PfCSS-PfPTRAMP complex on the parasite membrane. A modular PfRIPR is therefore linked to the merozoite membrane through an elongated tail, and its structured core presents PfCyRPA and PfRH5 to interact with erythrocyte receptors. This provides fresh insight into the molecular mechanism of erythrocyte invasion and opens the way to new approaches in rational vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Farrell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nawsad Alam
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Abhishek Jamwal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert J Ragotte
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hannah Walters-Morgan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon J Draper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Matthew K Higgins
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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6
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Vallintine T, van Ooij C. Timing of dense granule biogenesis in asexual malaria parasites. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001389. [PMID: 37647112 PMCID: PMC10482371 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an important infectious disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually. The disease is caused by infection of host erythrocytes by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The parasite contains three different apical organelles - micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules (DGs) - whose contents are secreted to mediate binding to and invasion of the host cell and the extensive remodelling of the host cell that occurs following invasion. Whereas the roles of micronemes and rhoptries in binding and invasion of the host erythrocyte have been studied in detail, the roles of DGs in Plasmodium parasites are poorly understood. They have been proposed to control host cell remodelling through regulated protein secretion after invasion, but many basic aspects of the biology of DGs remain unknown. Here we describe DG biogenesis timing for the first time, using RESA localization as a proxy for the timing of DG formation. We show that DG formation commences approximately 37 min prior to schizont egress, as measured by the recruitment of the DG marker RESA. Furthermore, using a bioinformatics approach, we aimed to predict additional cargo of the DGs and identified the J-dot protein HSP40 as a DG protein, further supporting the very early role of these organelles in the interaction of the parasite with the host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tansy Vallintine
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Christiaan van Ooij
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Jonsdottir TK, Elsworth B, Cobbold S, Gabriela M, Ploeger E, Parkyn Schneider M, Charnaud SC, Dans MG, McConville M, Bullen HE, Crabb BS, Gilson PR. PTEX helps efficiently traffic haemoglobinases to the food vacuole in Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011006. [PMID: 37523385 PMCID: PMC10414648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A key element of Plasmodium biology and pathogenesis is the trafficking of ~10% of the parasite proteome into the host red blood cell (RBC) it infects. To cross the parasite-encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane, exported proteins utilise a channel-forming protein complex termed the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX). PTEX is obligatory for parasite survival, both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that at least some exported proteins have essential metabolic functions. However, to date only one essential PTEX-dependent process, the new permeability pathways, has been described. To identify other essential PTEX-dependant proteins/processes, we conditionally knocked down the expression of one of its core components, PTEX150, and examined which pathways were affected. Surprisingly, the food vacuole mediated process of haemoglobin (Hb) digestion was substantially perturbed by PTEX150 knockdown. Using a range of transgenic parasite lines and approaches, we show that two major Hb proteases; falcipain 2a and plasmepsin II, interact with PTEX core components, implicating the translocon in the trafficking of Hb proteases. We propose a model where these proteases are translocated into the PV via PTEX in order to reach the cytostome, located at the parasite periphery, prior to food vacuole entry. This work offers a second mechanistic explanation for why PTEX function is essential for growth of the parasite within its host RBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brendan Elsworth
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Simon Cobbold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Ellen Ploeger
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Sarah C. Charnaud
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Malcolm McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Triglia T, Scally SW, Seager BA, Pasternak M, Dagley LF, Cowman AF. Plasmepsin X activates the PCRCR complex of Plasmodium falciparum by processing PfRh5 for erythrocyte invasion. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2219. [PMID: 37072430 PMCID: PMC10113190 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37890-2] [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: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of malaria in humans. The protozoan parasite develops within erythrocytes to mature schizonts, that contain more than 16 merozoites, which egress and invade fresh erythrocytes. The aspartic protease plasmepsin X (PMX), processes proteins and proteases essential for merozoite egress from the schizont and invasion of the host erythrocyte, including the leading vaccine candidate PfRh5. PfRh5 is anchored to the merozoite surface through a 5-membered complex (PCRCR), consisting of Plasmodium thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein, cysteine-rich small secreted protein, Rh5-interacting protein and cysteine-rich protective antigen. Here, we show that PCRCR is processed by PMX in micronemes to remove the N-terminal prodomain of PhRh5 and this activates the function of the complex unmasking a form that can bind basigin on the erythrocyte membrane and mediate merozoite invasion. The ability to activate PCRCR at a specific time in merozoite invasion most likely masks potential deleterious effects of its function until they are required. These results provide an important understanding of the essential role of PMX and the fine regulation of PCRCR function in P. falciparum biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Triglia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Stephen W Scally
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Benjamin A Seager
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Michał Pasternak
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Laura F Dagley
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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Wunderlich J. Updated List of Transport Proteins in Plasmodium falciparum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:926541. [PMID: 35811673 PMCID: PMC9263188 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.926541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a leading cause of death and disease in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Due to the alarming spread of resistance to almost all available antimalarial drugs, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. As the intracellular human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum depends entirely on the host to meet its nutrient requirements and the majority of its transmembrane transporters are essential and lack human orthologs, these have often been suggested as potential targets of novel antimalarial drugs. However, membrane proteins are less amenable to proteomic tools compared to soluble parasite proteins, and have thus not been characterised as well. While it had been proposed that P. falciparum had a lower number of transporters (2.5% of its predicted proteome) in comparison to most reference genomes, manual curation of information from various sources led to the identification of 197 known and putative transporter genes, representing almost 4% of all parasite genes, a proportion that is comparable to well-studied metazoan species. This transporter list presented here was compiled by collating data from several databases along with extensive literature searches, and includes parasite-encoded membrane-resident/associated channels, carriers, and pumps that are located within the parasite or exported to the host cell. It provides updated information on the substrates, subcellular localisation, class, predicted essentiality, and the presence or absence of human orthologs of P. falciparum transporters to quickly identify essential proteins without human orthologs for further functional characterisation and potential exploitation as novel drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Wunderlich
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Juliane Wunderlich,
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PCRCR complex is essential for invasion of human erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:2039-2053. [PMID: 36396942 PMCID: PMC9712106 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01261-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The most severe form of malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. These parasites invade human erythrocytes, and an essential step in this process involves the ligand PfRh5, which forms a complex with cysteine-rich protective antigen (CyRPA) and PfRh5-interacting protein (PfRipr) (RCR complex) and binds basigin on the host cell. We identified a heteromeric disulfide-linked complex consisting of P. falciparum Plasmodium thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein (PfPTRAMP) and P. falciparum cysteine-rich small secreted protein (PfCSS) and have shown that it binds RCR to form a pentameric complex, PCRCR. Using P. falciparum lines with conditional knockouts, invasion inhibitory nanobodies to both PfPTRAMP and PfCSS, and lattice light-sheet microscopy, we show that they are essential for merozoite invasion. The PCRCR complex functions to anchor the contact between merozoite and erythrocyte membranes brought together by strong parasite deformations. We solved the structure of nanobody-PfCSS complexes to identify an inhibitory epitope. Our results define the function of the PCRCR complex and identify invasion neutralizing epitopes providing a roadmap for structure-guided development of these proteins for a blood stage malaria vaccine.
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