1
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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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2
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Mahanta PJ, Lhouvum K. Plasmodium falciparum proteases as new drug targets with special focus on metalloproteases. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 258:111617. [PMID: 38554736 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Malaria poses a significant global health threat particularly due to the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection. With the emergence of parasite resistance to existing drugs including the recently discovered artemisinin, ongoing research seeks novel therapeutic avenues within the malaria parasite. Proteases are promising drug targets due to their essential roles in parasite biology, including hemoglobin digestion, merozoite invasion, and egress. While exploring the genomic landscape of Plasmodium falciparum, it has been revealed that there are 92 predicted proteases, with only approximately 14 of them having been characterized. These proteases are further distributed among 26 families grouped into five clans: aspartic proteases, cysteine proteases, metalloproteases, serine proteases, and threonine proteases. Focus on metalloprotease class shows further role in organelle processing for mitochondria and apicoplasts suggesting the potential of metalloproteases as viable drug targets. Holistic understanding of the parasite intricate life cycle and identification of potential drug targets are essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies against malaria and mitigating its devastating global impact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kimjolly Lhouvum
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
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3
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Sahu W, Bai T, Das A, Mukherjee S, Prusty A, Mallick NR, Elangovan S, Reddy KS. Plasmodium falciparum J-dot localized J domain protein A8iJp modulates the chaperone activity of human HSPA8. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:818-836. [PMID: 38418371 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14836] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum renovates the host erythrocyte to survive during intraerythrocytic development. This renovation requires many parasite proteins to unfold and move outside the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane, and chaperone-regulated protein folding becomes essential for the exported proteins to function. We report on a type-IV J domain protein (JDP), PF3D7_1401100, which we found to be processed before export and trafficked inside the lumen of parasite-derived structures known as J-dots. We found this protein to have holdase activity, as well as stimulate the ATPase and aggregation suppression activity of the human HSP70 chaperone HsHSPA8; thus, we named it "HSPA8-interacting J protein" (A8iJp). Moreover, we found a subset of HsHSPA8 to co-localize with A8iJp inside the infected human erythrocyte. Our results suggest that A8iJp modulates HsHSPA8 chaperone activity and may play an important role in host erythrocyte renovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Welka Sahu
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Tapaswini Bai
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Aleena Das
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Subhadip Mukherjee
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Aradhana Prusty
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Nipa Rani Mallick
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Selvakumar Elangovan
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - K Sony Reddy
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
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4
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Fierro MA, Muheljic A, Sha J, Wohlschlegel J, Beck JR. PEXEL is a proteolytic maturation site for both exported and non-exported Plasmodium proteins. mSphere 2024; 9:e0039323. [PMID: 38334391 PMCID: PMC10900883 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00393-23] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Obligate intracellular malaria parasites dramatically remodel their erythrocyte host through effector protein export to create a niche for survival. Most exported proteins contain a pentameric Plasmodium export element (PEXEL)/host-targeting motif that is cleaved in the parasite ER by the aspartic protease Plasmepsin V (PMV). This processing event exposes a mature N terminus required for translocation into the host cell and is not known to occur in non-exported proteins. Here, we report that the non-exported parasitophorous vacuole protein UIS2 contains a bona fide PEXEL motif that is processed in the P. falciparum blood stage. While the N termini of exported proteins containing the PEXEL and immediately downstream ~10 residues are sufficient to mediate translocation into the RBC, the equivalent UIS2 N terminus does not promote the export of a reporter. Curiously, the UIS2 PEXEL contains an unusual aspartic acid at the fourth position, which constitutes the extreme N-terminal residue following PEXEL cleavage (P1', RIL↓DE). Using a series of chimeric reporter fusions, we show that Asp at P1' is permissive for PMV processing but abrogates export. Moreover, mutation of this single UIS2 residue to alanine enables export, reinforcing that the mature N terminus mediates export, not PEXEL processing per se. Prompted by this observation, we further show that PEXEL sequences in the N termini of other non-exported rhoptry proteins are also processed, suggesting that PMV may be a more general secretory maturase than previously appreciated, similar to orthologs in related apicomplexans. Our findings provide new insight into the unique N-terminal constraints that mark proteins for export.IMPORTANCEHost erythrocyte remodeling by malaria parasite-exported effector proteins is critical to parasite survival and disease pathogenesis. In the deadliest malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, most exported proteins undergo proteolytic maturation via recognition of the pentameric Plasmodium export element (PEXEL)/host-targeting motif by the aspartic protease Plasmepsin V, which exposes a mature N terminus that is conducive for export into the erythrocyte host cell. While PEXEL processing is considered a unique mark of exported proteins, we demonstrate that PEXEL motifs are present and processed in non-exported proteins. Importantly, we show that specific residues at the variable fourth position of the PEXEL motif inhibit export despite being permissive for processing, reinforcing that features of the mature N terminus, and not PEXEL cleavage, identify cargo for export. This opens the door to further inquiry into the nature and evolution of the PEXEL motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A. Fierro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, lowa, USA
| | - Ajla Muheljic
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - James Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, lowa, USA
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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5
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Fréville A, Ressurreição M, van Ooij C. Identification of a non-exported Plasmepsin V substrate that functions in the parasitophorous vacuole of malaria parasites. mBio 2024; 15:e0122323. [PMID: 38078758 PMCID: PMC10790765 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01223-23] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In the manuscript, the authors investigate the role of the protease Plasmepsin V in the parasite-host interaction. Whereas processing by Plasmepsin V was previously thought to target a protein for export into the host cell, the authors now show that there are proteins cleaved by this protease that are not exported but instead function at the host-parasite interface. This changes the view of this protease, which turns out to have a much broader role than anticipated. The result shows that the protease may have a function much more similar to that of related organisms. The authors also investigate the requirements for protein export by analyzing exported and non-exported proteins and find commonalities between the proteins of each set that further our understanding of the requirements for protein export.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Fréville
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Margarida Ressurreição
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christiaan van Ooij
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Gabriela M, Barnes CBG, Leong D, Sleebs BE, Schneider MP, Littler DR, Crabb BS, de Koning‐Ward TF, Gilson PR. Sequence elements within the PEXEL motif and its downstream region modulate PTEX-dependent protein export in Plasmodium falciparum. Traffic 2024; 25:e12922. [PMID: 37926971 PMCID: PMC10952997 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of malaria and to invade and replicate in red blood cells (RBCs), it exports hundreds of proteins across the encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) into this host cell. The exported proteins help modify the RBC to support rapid parasite growth and avoidance of the human immune system. Most exported proteins possess a conserved Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif with the consensus RxLxE/D/Q amino acid sequence, which acts as a proteolytic cleavage recognition site within the parasite's endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cleavage occurs after the P1 L residue and is thought to help release the protein from the ER so it can be putatively escorted by the HSP101 chaperone to the parasitophorous vacuole space surrounding the intraerythrocytic parasite. HSP101 and its cargo are then thought to assemble with the rest of a Plasmodium translocon for exported proteins (PTEX) complex, that then recognises the xE/D/Q capped N-terminus of the exported protein and translocates it across the vacuole membrane into the RBC compartment. Here, we present evidence that supports a dual role for the PEXEL's conserved P2 ' position E/Q/D residue, first, for plasmepsin V cleavage in the ER, and second, for efficient PTEX mediated export across the PVM into the RBC. We also present evidence that the downstream 'spacer' region separating the PEXEL motif from the folded functional region of the exported protein controls cargo interaction with PTEX as well. The spacer must be of a sufficient length and permissive amino acid composition to engage the HSP101 unfoldase component of PTEX to be efficiently translocated into the RBC compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- School of MedicineDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Claudia B. G. Barnes
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Dickson Leong
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Dene R. Littler
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of ImmunologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Tania F. de Koning‐Ward
- School of MedicineDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT)Deakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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7
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Hasan MM, Polino AJ, Mukherjee S, Vaupel B, Goldberg DE. The mature N-termini of Plasmodium effector proteins confer specificity of export. mBio 2023; 14:e0121523. [PMID: 37646514 PMCID: PMC10653839 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01215-23] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Malaria parasites export hundreds of proteins to the cytoplasm of the host red blood cells for their survival. A five amino acid sequence, called the PEXEL motif, is conserved among many exported proteins and is thought to be a signal for export. However, the motif is cleaved inside the endoplasmic reticulum of the parasite, and mature proteins starting from the fourth PEXEL residue travel to the parasite periphery for export. We showed that the PEXEL motif is dispensable for export as long as identical mature proteins can be efficiently produced via alternative means in the ER. We also showed that the exported and non-exported proteins are differentiated at the parasite periphery based on their mature N-termini; however, any discernible export signal within that region remained cryptic. Our study resolves a longstanding paradox in PEXEL protein trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad M. Hasan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alexander J. Polino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sumit Mukherjee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Barbara Vaupel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel E. Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Bekić V, Kilian N. Novel secretory organelles of parasite origin - at the center of host-parasite interaction. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200241. [PMID: 37518819 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Reorganization of cell organelle-deprived host red blood cells by the apicomplexan malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum enables their cytoadherence to endothelial cells that line the microvasculature. This increases the time red blood cells infected with mature developmental stages remain within selected organs such as the brain to avoid the spleen passage, which can lead to severe complications and cumulate in patient death. The Maurer's clefts are a novel secretory organelle of parasite origin established by the parasite in the cytoplasm of the host red blood cell in order to facilitate the establishment of cytoadherence by conducting the trafficking of immunovariant adhesins to the host cell surface. Another important function of the organelle is the sorting of other proteins the parasite traffics into its host cell. Although the organelle is of high importance for the pathology of malaria, additional putative functions, structure, and genesis remain shrouded in mystery more than a century after its discovery. In this review, we highlight our current knowledge about the Maurer's clefts and other novel secretory organelles established within the host cell cytoplasm by human-pathogenic malaria parasites and other parasites that reside within human red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Bekić
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nicole Kilian
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
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9
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Carmo OM, Dixon MW. VAR2CSA Ectodomain Labeling in Plasmodium falciparum Infected Red Blood Cells and Analysis via Flow Cytometry. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4725. [PMID: 37575395 PMCID: PMC10415195 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Presentation of the variant antigen Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (EMP1) at the surface of infected red blood cells (RBCs) underpins the malaria parasite's pathogenicity. The transport of EMP1 to the RBC surface is facilitated by a parasite-derived trafficking system, in which over 500 parasite proteins are exported into the host cell cytoplasm. To understand how genetic ablation of selected exported proteins affects EMP1 transport, several EMP1 surface presentation assays have been developed, including: 1) trypsinization of surface-exposed EMP1 and analysis by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting; and 2) infected RBC binding assays, to determine binding efficiency to immobilized ligand under physiological flow conditions. Here, we describe a third EMP1 surface presentation assay, where antibodies to the ectodomain of EMP1 and flow cytometry are used to quantify surface-exposed EMP1 in live cells. The advantages of this assay include higher throughput capacity and data better suited for robust quantitative analysis. This protocol can also be applied to other cellular contexts where an antibody can be developed for the ectodomain of the protein of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M.S. Carmo
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Matthew W.A. Dixon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immune Defense, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
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10
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Fierro MA, Muheljic A, Sha J, Wohlschlegel JA, Beck JR. PEXEL is a proteolytic maturation site for both exported and non-exported Plasmodium proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.12.548774. [PMID: 37503245 PMCID: PMC10369990 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.12.548774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Obligate intracellular malaria parasites dramatically remodel their erythrocyte host through effector protein export to create a niche for survival. Most exported proteins contain a pentameric P lasmodium ex port el ement (PEXEL)/Host Targeting Motif that is cleaved in the parasite ER by the aspartic protease Plasmepsin V (PMV). This processing event exposes a mature N-terminus required for translocation into the host cell and is not known to occur in non-exported proteins. Here we report that the non-exported parasitophorous vacuole protein UIS2 contains a bona fide PEXEL motif that is processed in the P. falciparum blood-stage. While the N-termini of exported proteins containing the PEXEL and immediately downstream ∼10 residues is sufficient to mediate translocation into the RBC, the equivalent UIS2 N-terminus does not promote export of a reporter. Curiously, the UIS2 PEXEL contains an unusual aspartic acid at the fourth position which constitutes the extreme N-terminal residue following PEXEL cleavage (P1', RILτDE). Using a series of chimeric reporter fusions, we show that Asp at P1' is permissive for PMV processing but abrogates export. Moreover, mutation of this single UIS2 residue to alanine enables export, reinforcing that the mature N-terminus mediates export, not PEXEL processing per se . Prompted by this observation, we further show that PEXEL sequences in the N-termini of other non-exported rhoptry proteins are also processed, suggesting that PMV may be a more general secretory maturase than previously appreciated, similar to orthologs in related apicomplexans. Our findings provide new insight into the unique N-terminal constraints that mark proteins for export. Importance Host erythrocyte remodeling by malaria parasite exported effector proteins is critical to parasite survival and disease pathogenesis. In the deadliest malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum , most exported proteins undergo proteolytic maturation via recognition of the pentameric P lasmodium ex port el ement (PEXEL)/Host Targeting motif by the aspartic protease Plasmepsin V (PMV) which exposes a mature N-terminus that is conducive for export into the erythrocyte host cell. While PEXEL processing is considered a unique mark of exported proteins, we demonstrate PEXEL motifs are present and processed in non-exported proteins. Importantly, we show that specific residues at the variable fourth position of the PEXEL motif inhibit export despite being permissive for processing by PMV, reinforcing that features of the mature N-terminus, and not PEXEL cleavage, identify cargo for export cargo. This opens the door to further inquiry into the nature and evolution of the PEXEL motif.
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11
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Florin-Christensen M, Sojka D, Ganzinelli S, Šnebergerová P, Suarez CE, Schnittger L. Degrade to survive: the intricate world of piroplasmid proteases. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:532-546. [PMID: 37271664 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Piroplasmids of the genera Babesia, Theileria, and Cytauxzoon are tick-transmitted parasites with a high impact on animals and humans. They have complex life cycles in their definitive arthropod and intermediate vertebrate hosts involving numerous processes, including invasion of, and egress from, host cells, parasite growth, transformation, and migration. Like other parasitic protozoa, piroplasmids are equipped with different types of protease to fulfill many of such essential processes. Blockade of some key proteases, using inhibitors or antibodies, hinders piroplasmid growth, highlighting their potential usefulness in drug therapies and vaccine development. A better understanding of the functional significance of these enzymes will contribute to the development of improved control measures for the devastating animal and human diseases caused by these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina.
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 1160/31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Sabrina Ganzinelli
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Pavla Šnebergerová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 1160/31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Washington State University/Animal Disease Research Unit USDA, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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12
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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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13
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Parkyn Schneider M, Looker O, Rebelo M, Khoury DS, Dixon MWA, Oeuvray C, Crabb BS, McCarthy J, Gilson PR. The delayed bloodstream clearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites after M5717 treatment is attributable to the inability to modify their red blood cell hosts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1211613. [PMID: 37457953 PMCID: PMC10340534 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1211613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
M5717 is a promising antimalarial drug under development that acts against multiple stages of the life cycle of Plasmodium parasites by inhibiting the translation elongation factor 2 (PfeEF2), thereby preventing protein synthesis. The parasite clearance profile after drug treatment in preclinical studies in mice, and clinical trials in humans showed a notable delayed clearance phenotype whereby parasite infected red blood cells (iRBCs) persisted in the bloodstream for a significant period before eventual clearance. In a normal P. falciparum infection iRBCs sequester in the deep circulation by cytoadherence, allowing them to avoid surveillance and clearance in the spleen. We found that M5717 blocks parasite modification of their host red blood cells (RBCs) by preventing synthesis of new exported proteins, rather than by directly blocking the export of these proteins into the RBC compartment. Using in vitro models, we demonstrated that M5717 treated ring/trophozoite stage iRBCs became less rigid, and cytoadhered less well compared to untreated iRBCs. This indicates that in vivo persistence of M5717 treated iRBCs in the bloodstream is likely due to reduced cytoadherence and splenic clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Rebelo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David S. Khoury
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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14
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Pires CV, Oberstaller J, Wang C, Casandra D, Zhang M, Chawla J, Adapa SR, Otto TD, Ferdig MT, Rayner JC, Jiang RHY, Adams JH. Chemogenomic Profiling of a Plasmodium falciparum Transposon Mutant Library Reveals Shared Effects of Dihydroartemisinin and Bortezomib on Lipid Metabolism and Exported Proteins. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0501422. [PMID: 37067430 PMCID: PMC10269874 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05014-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The antimalarial activity of the frontline drug artemisinin involves generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to oxidative damage of parasite proteins. To achieve homeostasis and maintain protein quality control in the overwhelmed parasite, the ubiquitin-proteasome system kicks in. Even though molecular markers for artemisinin resistance like pfkelch13 have been identified, the intricate network of mechanisms driving resistance remains to be elucidated. Here, we report a forward genetic screening strategy that enables a broader identification of genetic factors responsible for altering sensitivity to dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and a proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (BTZ). Using a library of isogenic piggyBac mutants in P. falciparum, we defined phenotype-genotype associations influencing drug responses and highlighted shared mechanisms between the two processes, which mainly included proteasome-mediated degradation and the lipid metabolism genes. Additional transcriptomic analysis of a DHA/BTZ-sensitive piggyBac mutant showed it is possible to find differences between the two response mechanisms on the specific components for regulation of the exportome. Our results provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms of antimalarial drug resistance. IMPORTANCE Malaria control is seriously threatened by the emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to the leading antimalarial, artemisinin. The potent killing activity of artemisinin results from oxidative damage unleashed by free heme activation released by hemoglobin digestion. Although the ubiquitin-proteasome system is considered critical for parasite survival of this toxicity, the diverse genetic changes linked to artemisinin resistance are complex and, so far, have not included the ubiquitin-proteasome system. In this study, we use a systematic forward genetic approach by screening a library of P. falciparum random piggyBac mutants to decipher the genetic factors driving malaria parasite responses to the oxidative stress caused by antimalarial drugs. This study compares phenotype-genotype associations influencing dihydroartemisinin responses with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib to delineate the role of ubiquitin-proteasome system. Our study highlights shared and unique pathways from the complex array of molecular processes critical for P. falciparum survival resulting from the oxidative damage of artemisinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Valente Pires
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Debora Casandra
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Min Zhang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jyotsna Chawla
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Swamy Rakesh Adapa
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Thomas D. Otto
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, MVLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Michael T. Ferdig
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Julian C. Rayner
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rays H. Y. Jiang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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15
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Richardson LW, Ashton TD, Dans MG, Nguyen N, Favuzza P, Triglia T, Hodder AN, Ngo A, Jarman KE, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. Substrate Peptidomimetic Inhibitors of P. falciparum Plasmepsin X with Potent Antimalarial Activity. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200306. [PMID: 35906744 PMCID: PMC9804387 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Plasmepsin X (PMX) is an aspartyl protease that processes proteins essential for Plasmodium parasites to invade and egress from host erythrocytes during the symptomatic asexual stage of malaria. PMX substrates possess a conserved cleavage region denoted by the consensus motif, SFhE (h=hydrophobic amino acid). Peptidomimetics reflecting the P3 -P1 positions of the consensus motif were designed and showed potent and selective inhibition of PMX. It was established that PMX prefers Phe in the P1 position, di-substitution at the β-carbon of the P2 moiety and a hydrophobic P3 group which was supported by modelling of the peptidomimetics in complex with PMX. The peptidomimetics were shown to arrest asexual P. falciparum parasites at the schizont stage by impairing PMX substrate processing. Overall, the peptidomimetics described will assist in further understanding PMX substrate specificity and have the potential to act as a template for future antimalarial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan W. Richardson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Trent D. Ashton
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Tony Triglia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia
| | - Anthony N. Hodder
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Anna Ngo
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia
| | - Kate E. Jarman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
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16
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Hakimi H, Yamagishi J, Kawazu SI, Asada M. Advances in understanding red blood cell modifications by Babesia. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010770. [PMID: 36107982 PMCID: PMC9477259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia are tick-borne protozoan parasites that can infect livestock, pets, wildlife animals, and humans. In the mammalian host, they invade and multiply within red blood cells (RBCs). To support their development as obligate intracellular parasites, Babesia export numerous proteins to modify the RBC during invasion and development. Such exported proteins are likely important for parasite survival and pathogenicity and thus represent candidate drug or vaccine targets. The availability of complete genome sequences and the establishment of transfection systems for several Babesia species have aided the identification and functional characterization of exported proteins. Here, we review exported Babesia proteins; discuss their functions in the context of immune evasion, cytoadhesion, and nutrient uptake; and highlight possible future topics for research and application in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Hakimi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HH); (MA)
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shin-ichiro Kawazu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Masahito Asada
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail: (HH); (MA)
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17
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Polino AJ, Miller JJ, Bhakat S, Mukherjee S, Bobba S, Bowman GR, Goldberg DE. The nepenthesin insert in the Plasmodium falciparum aspartic protease plasmepsin V is necessary for enzyme function. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102355. [PMID: 35952758 PMCID: PMC9478907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmepsin V (PM V) is a pepsin-like aspartic protease essential for growth of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Previous work has shown PM V to be an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protease that processes parasite proteins destined for export into the host cell. Depletion or inhibition of the enzyme is lethal during asexual replication within red blood cells as well as during the formation of sexual stage gametocytes. The structure of the Plasmodium vivax PM V has been characterized by X-ray crystallography, revealing a canonical pepsin fold punctuated by structural features uncommon to secretory aspartic proteases; however, the function of this unique structure is unclear. Here, we used parasite genetics to probe these structural features by attempting to rescue lethal PM V depletion with various mutant enzymes. We found an unusual nepenthesin 1-type insert in the PM V gene to be essential for parasite growth and PM V activity. Mutagenesis of the nepenthesin insert suggests that both its amino acid sequence and one of the two disulfide bonds that undergird its structure are required for the insert's role in PM V function. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations paired with Markov state modeling suggest that mutations to the nepenthesin insert may allosterically affect PM V catalysis through multiple mechanisms. Taken together, these data provide further insights into the structure of the P. falciparum PM V protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Polino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Justin J Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Soumendranath Bhakat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sumit Mukherjee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Suhas Bobba
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Gregory R Bowman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
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18
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Molina-Franky J, Patarroyo ME, Kalkum M, Patarroyo MA. The Cellular and Molecular Interaction Between Erythrocytes and Plasmodium falciparum Merozoites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:816574. [PMID: 35433504 PMCID: PMC9008539 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.816574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal human malaria parasite, partly due to its genetic variability and ability to use multiple invasion routes via its binding to host cell surface receptors. The parasite extensively modifies infected red blood cell architecture to promote its survival which leads to increased cell membrane rigidity, adhesiveness and permeability. Merozoites are initially released from infected hepatocytes and efficiently enter red blood cells in a well-orchestrated process that involves specific interactions between parasite ligands and erythrocyte receptors; symptoms of the disease occur during the life-cycle’s blood stage due to capillary blockage and massive erythrocyte lysis. Several studies have focused on elucidating molecular merozoite/erythrocyte interactions and host cell modifications; however, further in-depth analysis is required for understanding the parasite’s biology and thus provide the fundamental tools for developing prophylactic or therapeutic alternatives to mitigate or eliminate Plasmodium falciparum-related malaria. This review focuses on the cellular and molecular events during Plasmodium falciparum merozoite invasion of red blood cells and the alterations that occur in an erythrocyte once it has become infected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Molina-Franky
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- PhD Programme in Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel Elkin Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Health Sciences Division, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Markus Kalkum
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Markus Kalkum, ; Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo,
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Health Sciences Division, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Markus Kalkum, ; Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo,
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19
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Gabriela M, Matthews KM, Boshoven C, Kouskousis B, Jonsdottir TK, Bullen HE, Modak J, Steer DL, Sleebs BE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Gilson PR. A revised mechanism for how Plasmodium falciparum recruits and exports proteins into its erythrocytic host cell. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009977. [PMID: 35192672 PMCID: PMC8896661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum exports ~10% of its proteome into its host erythrocyte to modify the host cell's physiology. The Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif contained within the N-terminus of most exported proteins directs the trafficking of those proteins into the erythrocyte. To reach the host cell, the PEXEL motif of exported proteins is processed by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident aspartyl protease plasmepsin V. Then, following secretion into the parasite-encasing parasitophorous vacuole, the mature exported protein must be unfolded and translocated across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane by the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX). PTEX is a protein-conducting channel consisting of the pore-forming protein EXP2, the protein unfoldase HSP101, and structural component PTEX150. The mechanism of how exported proteins are specifically trafficked from the parasite's ER following PEXEL cleavage to PTEX complexes on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane is currently not understood. Here, we present evidence that EXP2 and PTEX150 form a stable subcomplex that facilitates HSP101 docking. We also demonstrate that HSP101 localises both within the parasitophorous vacuole and within the parasite's ER throughout the ring and trophozoite stage of the parasite, coinciding with the timeframe of protein export. Interestingly, we found that HSP101 can form specific interactions with model PEXEL proteins in the parasite's ER, irrespective of their PEXEL processing status. Collectively, our data suggest that HSP101 recognises and chaperones PEXEL proteins from the ER to the parasitophorous vacuole and given HSP101's specificity for the EXP2-PTEX150 subcomplex, this provides a mechanism for how exported proteins are specifically targeted to PTEX for translocation into the erythrocyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Matthews
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Cas Boshoven
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Betty Kouskousis
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, 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
| | - Joyanta Modak
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - David L. Steer
- Monash Biomedical Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- ACRF Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 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
| | - Tania F. de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- * E-mail:
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20
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Band G, Leffler EM, Jallow M, Sisay-Joof F, Ndila CM, Macharia AW, Hubbart C, Jeffreys AE, Rowlands K, Nguyen T, Gonçalves S, Ariani CV, Stalker J, Pearson RD, Amato R, Drury E, Sirugo G, d'Alessandro U, Bojang KA, Marsh K, Peshu N, Saelens JW, Diakité M, Taylor SM, Conway DJ, Williams TN, Rockett KA, Kwiatkowski DP. Malaria protection due to sickle haemoglobin depends on parasite genotype. Nature 2021; 602:106-111. [PMID: 34883497 PMCID: PMC8810385 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04288-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Host genetic factors can confer resistance against malaria1, raising the question of whether this has led to evolutionary adaptation of parasite populations. Here we searched for association between candidate host and parasite genetic variants in 3,346 Gambian and Kenyan children with severe malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. We identified a strong association between sickle haemoglobin (HbS) in the host and three regions of the parasite genome, which is not explained by population structure or other covariates, and which is replicated in additional samples. The HbS-associated alleles include nonsynonymous variants in the gene for the acyl-CoA synthetase family member2–4PfACS8 on chromosome 2, in a second region of chromosome 2, and in a region containing structural variation on chromosome 11. The alleles are in strong linkage disequilibrium and have frequencies that covary with the frequency of HbS across populations, in particular being much more common in Africa than other parts of the world. The estimated protective effect of HbS against severe malaria, as determined by comparison of cases with population controls, varies greatly according to the parasite genotype at these three loci. These findings open up a new avenue of enquiry into the biological and epidemiological significance of the HbS-associated polymorphisms in the parasite genome and the evolutionary forces that have led to their high frequency and strong linkage disequilibrium in African P. falciparum populations. A strong association has been found between three regions of the Plasmodium falciparum genome and sickle haemoglobin in children with severe malaria, suggesting parasites have adapted to overcome natural host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Band
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK. .,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK. .,Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health and Information Discovery, Old Road Campus, Oxford, USA.
| | - Ellen M Leffler
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Muminatou Jallow
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, The Gambia.,Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (formerly Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital), Independence Drive, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Fatoumatta Sisay-Joof
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Carolyne M Ndila
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Christina Hubbart
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Anna E Jeffreys
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Kate Rowlands
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Thuy Nguyen
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Jim Stalker
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard D Pearson
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.,Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health and Information Discovery, Old Road Campus, Oxford, USA
| | | | | | - Giorgio Sirugo
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, The Gambia.,Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Umberto d'Alessandro
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Kalifa A Bojang
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Kevin Marsh
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, NDM Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Norbert Peshu
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Joseph W Saelens
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mahamadou Diakité
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Steve M Taylor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.,Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David J Conway
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, The Gambia.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Thomas N Williams
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, PO Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya.,Institute for Global Health Innovation, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London, London, UK
| | - Kirk A Rockett
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK. .,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Dominic P Kwiatkowski
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK. .,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK. .,Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health and Information Discovery, Old Road Campus, Oxford, USA.
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21
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Keitany GJ, Jenkins BJ, Obiakor HT, Daniel S, Muehlenbachs A, Semblat JP, Gamain B, Doritchamou JYA, Desai SA, MacDonald NJ, Narum DL, Morrison R, Saveria T, Vignali M, Oleinikov AV, Fried M, Duffy PE. An invariant protein that co-localizes with VAR2CSA on Plasmodium falciparum-infected red cells binds to chondroitin sulfate A. J Infect Dis 2021; 225:2011-2022. [PMID: 34718641 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) bind and sequester in deep vascular beds, causing malaria-related disease and death. In pregnant women, VAR2CSA binds to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) and mediates placental sequestration, making it the major placental malaria (PM) vaccine target. Here, we characterize an invariant protein associated with PM called Plasmodium falciparum chondroitin sulfate A ligand (PfCSA-L). Recombinant PfCSA-L binds both placental CSA and VAR2CSA with nanomolar affinity, and is coexpressed on the iRBC surface with VAR2CSA. Unlike VAR2CSA, which is anchored by a transmembrane domain, PfCSA-L is peripherally associated with the outer surface of knobs through high affinity protein-protein interactions with VAR2CSA. This suggests iRBC sequestration involves complexes of invariant and variant surface proteins, allowing parasites to maintain both diversity and function at the iRBC surface. PfCSA-L is a promising target for intervention because it is well conserved, exposed on infected cells, and expressed and localized with VAR2CSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys J Keitany
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, USA.,University of Washington, Department of Pathobiology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bethany J Jenkins
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Harold T Obiakor
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shaji Daniel
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Atis Muehlenbachs
- University of Washington Medical Center, Anatomic Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Semblat
- Université de Paris, Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge, UMR_S1134, Inserm, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Gamain
- Université de Paris, Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge, UMR_S1134, Inserm, F-75015, Paris, France
| | | | - Sanjay A Desai
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH, Rockville, MD
| | | | - David L Narum
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Tracy Saveria
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Michal Fried
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, USA.,University of Washington, Department of Pathobiology, Seattle, WA, USA.,Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patrick E Duffy
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA, USA.,University of Washington, Department of Pathobiology, Seattle, WA, USA.,Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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22
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Mourier T, de Alvarenga DAM, Kaushik A, de Pina-Costa A, Douvropoulou O, Guan Q, Guzmán-Vega FJ, Forrester S, de Abreu FVS, Júnior CB, de Souza Junior JC, Moreira SB, Hirano ZMB, Pissinatti A, Ferreira-da-Cruz MDF, de Oliveira RL, Arold ST, Jeffares DC, Brasil P, de Brito CFA, Culleton R, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Pain A. The genome of the zoonotic malaria parasite Plasmodium simium reveals adaptations to host switching. BMC Biol 2021; 19:219. [PMID: 34592986 PMCID: PMC8485552 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01139-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium simium, a malaria parasite of non-human primates (NHP), was recently shown to cause zoonotic infections in humans in Brazil. We sequenced the P. simium genome to investigate its evolutionary history and to identify any genetic adaptions that may underlie the ability of this parasite to switch between host species. RESULTS Phylogenetic analyses based on whole genome sequences of P. simium from humans and NHPs reveals that P. simium is monophyletic within the broader diversity of South American Plasmodium vivax, suggesting P. simium first infected NHPs as a result of a host switch of P. vivax from humans. The P. simium isolates show the closest relationship to Mexican P. vivax isolates. Analysis of erythrocyte invasion genes reveals differences between P. vivax and P. simium, including large deletions in the Duffy-binding protein 1 (DBP1) and reticulocyte-binding protein 2a genes of P. simium. Analysis of P. simium isolated from NHPs and humans revealed a deletion of 38 amino acids in DBP1 present in all human-derived isolates, whereas NHP isolates were multi-allelic. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of the P. simium genome confirmed a close phylogenetic relationship between P. simium and P. vivax, and suggests a very recent American origin for P. simium. The presence of the DBP1 deletion in all human-derived isolates tested suggests that this deletion, in combination with other genetic changes in P. simium, may facilitate the invasion of human red blood cells and may explain, at least in part, the basis of the recent zoonotic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Mourier
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Denise Anete Madureira de Alvarenga
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Belo Horizonte, MG, 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Abhinav Kaushik
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anielle de Pina-Costa
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Doenças Febris Agudas, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
- Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos (UNIFESO), Teresópolis, RJ, 25964-004, Brazil
| | - Olga Douvropoulou
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Qingtian Guan
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Francisco J Guzmán-Vega
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Forrester
- Department of Biology and York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Filipe Vieira Santos de Abreu
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Cesare Bianco Júnior
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, IOC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Julio Cesar de Souza Junior
- Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Centro de Pesquisas Biológicas de Indaial (CEPESBI)/ Projeto bugio, Blumenau, Indaial, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Zelinda Maria Braga Hirano
- Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Centro de Pesquisas Biológicas de Indaial (CEPESBI)/ Projeto bugio, Blumenau, Indaial, SC, Brazil
| | - Alcides Pissinatti
- Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro (CPRJ/Inea), Guapimirim, RJ, 25940-000, Brazil
| | - Maria de Fátima Ferreira-da-Cruz
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, IOC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Lourenço de Oliveira
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Stefan T Arold
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Centre de Biologie Structurale, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Daniel C Jeffares
- Department of Biology and York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Patrícia Brasil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Doenças Febris Agudas, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Cristiana Ferreira Alves de Brito
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia Molecular e Imunologia da Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Belo Horizonte, MG, 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Richard Culleton
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, IOC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil.
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
- Global Station for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, N20 W10 Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
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23
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Plasmepsin-like Aspartyl Proteases in Babesia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101241. [PMID: 34684190 PMCID: PMC8540915 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan genomes encode multiple pepsin-family aspartyl proteases (APs) that phylogenetically cluster to six independent clades (A to F). Such diversification has been powered by the function-driven evolution of the ancestral apicomplexan AP gene and is associated with the adaptation of various apicomplexan species to different strategies of host infection and transmission through various invertebrate vectors. To estimate the potential roles of Babesia APs, we performed qRT-PCR-based expressional profiling of Babesia microti APs (BmASP2, 3, 5, 6), which revealed the dynamically changing mRNA levels and indicated the specific roles of individual BmASP isoenzymes throughout the life cycle of this parasite. To expand on the current knowledge on piroplasmid APs, we searched the EuPathDB and NCBI GenBank databases to identify and phylogenetically analyse the complete sets of APs encoded by the genomes of selected Babesia and Theileria species. Our results clearly determine the potential roles of identified APs by their phylogenetic relation to their homologues of known function—Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsins (PfPM I–X) and Toxoplasma gondii aspartyl proteases (TgASP1–7). Due to the analogies with plasmodial plasmepsins, piroplasmid APs represent valuable enzymatic targets that are druggable by small molecule inhibitors—candidate molecules for the yet-missing specific therapy for babesiosis.
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24
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Wiser MF. Unique Endomembrane Systems and Virulence in Pathogenic Protozoa. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080822. [PMID: 34440567 PMCID: PMC8401336 DOI: 10.3390/life11080822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Virulence in pathogenic protozoa is often tied to secretory processes such as the expression of adhesins on parasite surfaces or the secretion of proteases to assisted in tissue invasion and other proteins to avoid the immune system. This review is a broad overview of the endomembrane systems of pathogenic protozoa with a focus on Giardia, Trichomonas, Entamoeba, kinetoplastids, and apicomplexans. The focus is on unique features of these protozoa and how these features relate to virulence. In general, the basic elements of the endocytic and exocytic pathways are present in all protozoa. Some of these elements, especially the endosomal compartments, have been repurposed by the various species and quite often the repurposing is associated with virulence. The Apicomplexa exhibit the most unique endomembrane systems. This includes unique secretory organelles that play a central role in interactions between parasite and host and are involved in the invasion of host cells. Furthermore, as intracellular parasites, the apicomplexans extensively modify their host cells through the secretion of proteins and other material into the host cell. This includes a unique targeting motif for proteins destined for the host cell. Most notable among the apicomplexans is the malaria parasite, which extensively modifies and exports numerous proteins into the host erythrocyte. These modifications of the host erythrocyte include the formation of unique membranes and structures in the host erythrocyte cytoplasm and on the erythrocyte membrane. The transport of parasite proteins to the host erythrocyte involves several unique mechanisms and components, as well as the generation of compartments within the erythrocyte that participate in extraparasite trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Wiser
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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25
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Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Crabb BS, F de Koning-Ward T, Gilson PR. Defining the Essential Exportome of the Malaria Parasite. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:664-675. [PMID: 33985912 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To survive inside red blood cells (RBCs), malaria parasites export many proteins to alter their host cell's physiological properties. Although most proteins of this exportome are involved in immune avoidance or in the trafficking of exported proteins to the host membrane, about 20% are essential for parasite survival in culture but little is known about their biological functions. Here, we have combined information from large-scale genetic screens and targeted gene-disruption studies to tabulate all currently known Plasmodium falciparum exported proteins according to their likelihood of being essential. We also discuss the essential functional pathways that exported proteins might be involved in to help direct research efforts towards a more comprehensive understanding of host-cell remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
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26
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Sharma PP, Kumar S, Kaushik K, Singh A, Singh IK, Grishina M, Pandey KC, Singh P, Potemkin V, Poonam, Singh G, Rathi B. In silico validation of novel inhibitors of malarial aspartyl protease, plasmepsin V and antimalarial efficacy prediction. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:8352-8364. [PMID: 33870856 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1911855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Plasmepsin V (Plm V) is an essential aspartic protease required for survival of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Plm V is required for cleaving the PEXEL motifs of many Pf proteins and its inhibition leads to a knockout effect, indicating its suitability as potential drug target. To decipher new inhibitors of PfPlm V, molecular docking of four HIV-1 protease inhibitors active against PfPlmV was performed on Glide module of Schrödinger suite that supported saquinavir as a lead drug, and therefore, selected as a control. Saquinavir contains an important hydroxyethylamine (HEA) pharmacophore, which was utilized as backbone coupled with piperazine scaffold to build new library of compounds. Newly designed HEA compounds were screened virtually against Plm V. Molecular docking led to a few hits (1 and 3) with higher docking score over the control drug. Notably, compound 1 showed the highest docking score (-11.90 kcal/mol) and XP Gscore (-11.948 kcal/mol). The Prime MMGBSA binding free energy for compound 1 (-60.88 kcal/mol) and 3 (-50.96 kcal/mol) was higher than saquinavir (-37.51 kcal/mol). The binding free energy for the last frame of molecular dynamic simulation supported compound 1 (-92.88 kcal/mol) as potent inhibitor of PfPlm V over saquinavir (-72.77 kcal/mol), and thus, deserves experimental validations in culture and subsequently in animal models.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prem Prakash Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Sonepat, Haryana, India.,Laboratory for Translational Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Kumar Kaushik
- Centre for Fire, Explosives & Environment Safety, Fire Chemistry Group, Delhi, India
| | - Archana Singh
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Indrakant K Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Lab., Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Maria Grishina
- Laboratory of Computational Modelling of Drugs, South Ural State University, Russia
| | - Kailash C Pandey
- Host-Parasite Interaction Biology Group, National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Vladimir Potemkin
- Laboratory of Computational Modelling of Drugs, South Ural State University, Russia
| | - Poonam
- Department of Chemistry, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Geeta Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Sonepat, Haryana, India
| | - Brijesh Rathi
- Laboratory for Translational Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.,Laboratory of Computational Modelling of Drugs, South Ural State University, Russia
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27
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Yadavalli R, Peterson JW, Drazba JA, Sam-Yellowe TY. Trafficking and Association of Plasmodium falciparum MC-2TM with the Maurer's Clefts. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10040431. [PMID: 33916455 PMCID: PMC8066109 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated stage specific expression, trafficking, solubility and topology of endogenous PfMC-2TM in P. falciparum (3D7) infected erythrocytes. Following Brefeldin A (BFA) treatment of parasites, PfMC-2TM traffic was evaluated using immunofluorescence with antibodies reactive with PfMC-2TM. PfMC-2TM is sensitive to BFA treatment and permeabilization of infected erythrocytes with streptolysin O (SLO) and saponin, showed that the N and C-termini of PfMC-2TM are exposed to the erythrocyte cytoplasm with the central portion of the protein protected in the MC membranes. PfMC-2TM was expressed as early as 4 h post invasion (hpi), was tightly colocalized with REX-1 and trafficked to the erythrocyte membrane without a change in solubility. PfMC-2TM associated with the MC and infected erythrocyte membrane and was resistant to extraction with alkaline sodium carbonate, suggestive of protein-lipid interactions with membranes of the MC and erythrocyte. PfMC-2TM is an additional marker of the nascent MCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendra Yadavalli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA;
| | - John W. Peterson
- Imaging Core Facility, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (J.W.P.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Judith A. Drazba
- Imaging Core Facility, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (J.W.P.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Tobili Y. Sam-Yellowe
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-216-687-2068
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28
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Abstract
Obligate intracellular malaria parasites reside within a vacuolar compartment generated during invasion which is the principal interface between pathogen and host. To subvert their host cell and support their metabolism, these parasites coordinate a range of transport activities at this membrane interface that are critically important to parasite survival and virulence, including nutrient import, waste efflux, effector protein export, and uptake of host cell cytosol. Here, we review our current understanding of the transport mechanisms acting at the malaria parasite vacuole during the blood and liver-stages of development with a particular focus on recent advances in our understanding of effector protein translocation into the host cell by the Plasmodium Translocon of EXported proteins (PTEX) and small molecule transport by the PTEX membrane-spanning pore EXP2. Comparison to Toxoplasma gondii and other related apicomplexans is provided to highlight how similar and divergent mechanisms are employed to fulfill analogous transport activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Chi-Min Ho
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
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29
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Role of the J Domain Protein Family in the Survival and Pathogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1340:97-123. [PMID: 34569022 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78397-6_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum has dedicated an unusually large proportion of its genome to molecular chaperones (2% of all genes), with the heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40) family (now called J domain proteins, JDPs) exhibiting evolutionary radiation into 49 members. A large number of the P. falciparum JDPs (PfJDPs) are predicted to be exported, with certain members shown experimentally to be present in the erythrocyte cytosol (PFA0660w and PFE0055c) or erythrocyte membrane (ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen, RESA). PFA0660w and PFE0055c are associated with an exported plasmodial Hsp70 (PfHsp70-x) within novel mobile structures called J-dots, which have been proposed to be dedicated to the trafficking of key membrane proteins such as erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). Well over half of the PfJDPs appear to be essential, including the J-dot PfJDP, PFE0055c, while others have been found to be required for growth under febrile conditions (e.g. PFA0110w, the ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen protein [RESA]) or involved in pathogenesis (e.g. PF10_0381 has been shown to be important for protrusions of the infected red blood cell membrane, the so-called knobs). Here we review what is known about those PfJDPs that have been well characterised, and may be directly or indirectly involved in the survival and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite.
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Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Gilson PR. The Role of Malaria Parasite Heat Shock Proteins in Protein Trafficking and Remodelling of Red Blood Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1340:141-167. [PMID: 34569024 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78397-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The genus Plasmodium comprises intracellular eukaryotic parasites that infect many vertebrate groups and cause deadly malaria disease in humans. The parasites employ a suite of heat shock proteins to help traffic other proteins to different compartments within their own cells and that of the host cells they parasitise. This review will cover the role of these chaperones in protein export and host cell modification in the asexual blood stage of the human parasite P. falciparum which is the most deadly and well-studied parasite species. We will examine the role chaperones play in the import of proteins into the secretory pathway from where they are escorted to the vacuole space surrounding the intraerythrocytic parasite. Here, other heat shock proteins unfold protein cargoes and extrude them into the red blood cell (RBC) cytosol from where additional chaperones of parasite and possibly host origin refold the cargo proteins and guide them to their final functional destinations within their RBC host cells. The secretory pathway also serves as a launch pad for proteins targeted to the non-photosynthetic apicoplast organelle of endosymbiotic origin, and the role of heat shock proteins in trafficking proteins here will be reviewed. Finally, the function of chaperones in protein trafficking into the mitochondrion, the remaining organelle of endosymbiotic origin, will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
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31
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PV1 Protein from Plasmodium falciparum Exhibits Chaperone-Like Functions and Cooperates with Hsp100s. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228616. [PMID: 33207549 PMCID: PMC7697860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum parasitophorous vacuolar protein 1 (PfPV1), a protein unique to malaria parasites, is localized in the parasitophorous vacuolar (PV) and is essential for parasite growth. Previous studies suggested that PfPV1 cooperates with the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX) complex to export various proteins from the PV. However, the structure and function of PfPV1 have not been determined in detail. In this study, we undertook the expression, purification, and characterization of PfPV1. The tetramer appears to be the structural unit of PfPV1. The activity of PfPV1 appears to be similar to that of molecular chaperones, and it may interact with various proteins. PfPV1 could substitute CtHsp40 in the CtHsp104, CtHsp70, and CtHsp40 protein disaggregation systems. Based on these results, we propose a model in which PfPV1 captures various PV proteins and delivers them to PTEX through a specific interaction with HSP101.
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32
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Aunin E, Böhme U, Sanderson T, Simons ND, Goldberg TL, Ting N, Chapman CA, Newbold CI, Berriman M, Reid AJ. Genomic and transcriptomic evidence for descent from Plasmodium and loss of blood schizogony in Hepatocystis parasites from naturally infected red colobus monkeys. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008717. [PMID: 32745123 PMCID: PMC7425995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocystis is a genus of single-celled parasites infecting, amongst other hosts, monkeys, bats and squirrels. Although thought to have descended from malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.), Hepatocystis spp. are thought not to undergo replication in the blood-the part of the Plasmodium life cycle which causes the symptoms of malaria. Furthermore, Hepatocystis is transmitted by biting midges, not mosquitoes. Comparative genomics of Hepatocystis and Plasmodium species therefore presents an opportunity to better understand some of the most important aspects of malaria parasite biology. We were able to generate a draft genome for Hepatocystis sp. using DNA sequencing reads from the blood of a naturally infected red colobus monkey. We provide robust phylogenetic support for Hepatocystis sp. as a sister group to Plasmodium parasites infecting rodents. We show transcriptomic support for a lack of replication in the blood and genomic support for a complete loss of a family of genes involved in red blood cell invasion. Our analyses highlight the rapid evolution of genes involved in parasite vector stages, revealing genes that may be critical for interactions between malaria parasites and mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eerik Aunin
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrike Böhme
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Theo Sanderson
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Noah D. Simons
- Department of Anthropology and Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Tony L. Goldberg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Nelson Ting
- Department of Anthropology and Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Colin A. Chapman
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Chris I. Newbold
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Adam J. Reid
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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33
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Nasamu AS, Polino AJ, Istvan ES, Goldberg DE. Malaria parasite plasmepsins: More than just plain old degradative pepsins. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:8425-8441. [PMID: 32366462 PMCID: PMC7307202 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.009309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmepsins are a group of diverse aspartic proteases in the malaria parasite Plasmodium Their functions are strikingly multifaceted, ranging from hemoglobin degradation to secretory organelle protein processing for egress, invasion, and effector export. Some, particularly the digestive vacuole plasmepsins, have been extensively characterized, whereas others, such as the transmission-stage plasmepsins, are minimally understood. Some (e.g. plasmepsin V) have exquisite cleavage sequence specificity; others are fairly promiscuous. Some have canonical pepsin-like aspartic protease features, whereas others have unusual attributes, including the nepenthesin loop of plasmepsin V and a histidine in place of a catalytic aspartate in plasmepsin III. We have learned much about the functioning of these enzymes, but more remains to be discovered about their cellular roles and even their mechanisms of action. Their importance in many key aspects of parasite biology makes them intriguing targets for antimalarial chemotherapy. Further consideration of their characteristics suggests that some are more viable drug targets than others. Indeed, inhibitors of invasion and egress offer hope for a desperately needed new drug to combat this nefarious organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armiyaw S Nasamu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alexander J Polino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Eva S Istvan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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34
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Florentin A, Cobb DW, Kudyba HM, Muralidharan V. Directing traffic: Chaperone-mediated protein transport in malaria parasites. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13215. [PMID: 32388921 PMCID: PMC7282954 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The ability of eukaryotic parasites from the phylum Apicomplexa to cause devastating diseases is predicated upon their ability to maintain faithful and precise protein trafficking mechanisms. Their parasitic life cycle depends on the trafficking of effector proteins to the infected host cell, transport of proteins to several critical organelles required for survival, as well as transport of parasite and host proteins to the digestive organelles to generate the building blocks for parasite growth. Several recent studies have shed light on the molecular mechanisms parasites utilise to transform the infected host cells, transport proteins to essential metabolic organelles and for biogenesis of organelles required for continuation of their life cycle. Here, we review key pathways of protein transport originating and branching from the endoplasmic reticulum, focusing on the essential roles of chaperones in these processes. Further, we highlight key gaps in our knowledge that prevents us from building a holistic view of protein trafficking in these deadly human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Florentin
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - David W Cobb
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Heather M Kudyba
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Vasant Muralidharan
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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35
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LaMonte GM, Rocamora F, Marapana DS, Gnädig NF, Ottilie S, Luth MR, Worgall TS, Goldgof GM, Mohunlal R, Santha Kumar TR, Thompson JK, Vigil E, Yang J, Hutson D, Johnson T, Huang J, Williams RM, Zou BY, Cheung AL, Kumar P, Egan TJ, Lee MCS, Siegel D, Cowman AF, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA. Pan-active imidazolopiperazine antimalarials target the Plasmodium falciparum intracellular secretory pathway. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1780. [PMID: 32286267 PMCID: PMC7156427 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15440-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A promising new compound class for treating human malaria is the imidazolopiperazines (IZP) class. IZP compounds KAF156 (Ganaplacide) and GNF179 are effective against Plasmodium symptomatic asexual blood-stage infections, and are able to prevent transmission and block infection in animal models. But despite the identification of resistance mechanisms in P. falciparum, the mode of action of IZPs remains unknown. To investigate, we here combine in vitro evolution and genome analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with molecular, metabolomic, and chemogenomic methods in P. falciparum. Our findings reveal that IZP-resistant S. cerevisiae clones carry mutations in genes involved in Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)-based lipid homeostasis and autophagy. In Plasmodium, IZPs inhibit protein trafficking, block the establishment of new permeation pathways, and cause ER expansion. Our data highlight a mechanism for blocking parasite development that is distinct from those of standard compounds used to treat malaria, and demonstrate the potential of IZPs for studying ER-dependent protein processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M LaMonte
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Frances Rocamora
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Danushka S Marapana
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Nina F Gnädig
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Madeline R Luth
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Tilla S Worgall
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Gregory M Goldgof
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Roxanne Mohunlal
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa
| | - T R Santha Kumar
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jennifer K Thompson
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Edgar Vigil
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jennifer Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dylan Hutson
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Trevor Johnson
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jianbo Huang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Roy M Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Bing Yu Zou
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Andrea L Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Prianka Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Timothy J Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa
| | - Marcus C S Lee
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Dionicio Siegel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Alan F Cowman
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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36
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Polino AJ, Nasamu AS, Niles JC, Goldberg DE. Assessment of Biological Role and Insight into Druggability of the Plasmodium falciparum Protease Plasmepsin V. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:738-746. [PMID: 32069391 PMCID: PMC7155168 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Upon infecting a red blood cell (RBC), the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum drastically remodels its host by exporting hundreds of proteins into the RBC cytosol. This protein export program is essential for parasite survival. Hence export-related proteins could be potential drug targets. One essential enzyme in this pathway is plasmepsin V (PMV), an aspartic protease that processes export-destined proteins in the parasite endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at the Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif. Despite long-standing interest in this enzyme, functional studies have been hindered by the inability of previous technologies to produce a regulatable lethal depletion of PMV. To overcome this technical barrier, we designed a system for stringent post-transcriptional regulation allowing a tightly controlled, tunable knockdown of PMV. Using this system, we found that PMV must be dramatically depleted to affect parasite growth, suggesting the parasite maintains this enzyme in substantial excess. Surprisingly, depletion of PMV arrested parasite growth immediately after RBC invasion, significantly before the death from exported protein deficit that has previously been described. The data suggest that PMV inhibitors can halt parasite growth at two distinct points in the parasite life cycle. However, overcoming the functional excess of PMV in the parasite may require inhibitor concentrations far beyond the enzyme's IC50.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Polino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Armiyaw S Nasamu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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37
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Warncke JD, Passecker A, Kipfer E, Brand F, Pérez-Martínez L, Proellochs NI, Kooij TWA, Butter F, Voss TS, Beck HP. The PHIST protein GEXP02 targets the host cytoskeleton during sexual development of Plasmodium falciparum. Cell Microbiol 2019; 22:e13123. [PMID: 31652487 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A hallmark of the biology of Plasmodium falciparum blood stage parasites is their extensive host cell remodelling, facilitated by parasite proteins that are exported into the erythrocyte. Although this area has received extensive attention, only a few exported parasite proteins have been analysed in detail, and much of this remodelling process remains unknown, particularly for gametocyte development. Recent advances to induce high rates of sexual commitment enable the production of large numbers of gametocytes. We used this approach to study the Plasmodium helical interspersed subtelomeric (PHIST) protein GEXP02, which is expressed during sexual development. We show by immunofluorescence that GEXP02 is exported to the gametocyte-infected host cell periphery. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed potential interactions between GEXP02 and components of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton as well as other exported parasite proteins. This indicates that GEXP02 targets the erythrocyte cytoskeleton and is likely involved in its remodelling. GEXP02 knock-out parasites show no obvious phenotype during gametocyte maturation, transmission through mosquitoes, and hepatocyte infection, suggesting auxiliary or redundant functions for this protein. In summary, we performed a detailed cellular and biochemical analysis of a sexual stage-specific exported parasite protein using a novel experimental approach that is broadly applicable to study the biology of P. falciparum gametocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan D Warncke
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Armin Passecker
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Enja Kipfer
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Françoise Brand
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lara Pérez-Martínez
- Proteomics Core Facility, Quantitative Proteomics, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | - Nicholas I Proellochs
- Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Taco W A Kooij
- Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Falk Butter
- Proteomics Core Facility, Quantitative Proteomics, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | - Till S Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter Beck
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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38
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Host Cytoskeleton Remodeling throughout the Blood Stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2019; 83:83/4/e00013-19. [PMID: 31484690 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00013-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The asexual intraerythrocytic development of Plasmodium falciparum, causing the most severe form of human malaria, is marked by extensive host cell remodeling. Throughout the processes of invasion, intracellular development, and egress, the erythrocyte membrane skeleton is remodeled by the parasite as required for each specific developmental stage. The remodeling is facilitated by a plethora of exported parasite proteins, and the erythrocyte membrane skeleton is the interface of most of the observed interactions between the parasite and host cell proteins. Host cell remodeling has been extensively described and there is a vast body of information on protein export or the description of parasite-induced structures such as Maurer's clefts or knobs on the host cell surface. Here we specifically review the molecular level of each host cell-remodeling step at each stage of the intraerythrocytic development of P. falciparum We describe key events, such as invasion, knob formation, and egress, and identify the interactions between exported parasite proteins and the host cell cytoskeleton. We discuss each remodeling step with respect to time and specific requirement of the developing parasite to explain host cell remodeling in a stage-specific manner. Thus, we highlight the interaction with the host membrane skeleton as a key event in parasite survival.
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39
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Translocation of effector proteins into host cells by Toxoplasma gondii. Curr Opin Microbiol 2019; 52:130-138. [PMID: 31446366 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The Apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is an obligate intracellular organism that must co-opt its host cell to survive. To this end, Toxoplasma parasites introduce a suite of effector proteins from two secretory compartments called rhoptries and dense granules into the host cells. Once inside, these effectors extensively modify the host cell to facilitate parasite penetration, replication and persistence. In this review, we summarize the most recent advances in current understanding of effector translocation from Toxoplasma's rhoptry and dense granule organelles into the host cell, with comparisons to Plasmodium spp. for broader context.
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40
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Kudyba HM, Cobb DW, Fierro MA, Florentin A, Ljolje D, Singh B, Lucchi NW, Muralidharan V. The endoplasmic reticulum chaperone PfGRP170 is essential for asexual development and is linked to stress response in malaria parasites. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13042. [PMID: 31087747 PMCID: PMC6699899 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of malaria mortality is attributed to one parasite species: Plasmodium falciparum. Asexual replication of the parasite within the red blood cell is responsible for the pathology of the disease. In Plasmodium, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a central hub for protein folding and trafficking as well as stress response pathways. In this study, we tested the role of an uncharacterised ER protein, PfGRP170, in regulating these key functions by generating conditional mutants. Our data show that PfGRP170 localises to the ER and is essential for asexual growth, specifically required for proper development of schizonts. PfGRP170 is essential for surviving heat shock, suggesting a critical role in cellular stress response. The data demonstrate that PfGRP170 interacts with the Plasmodium orthologue of the ER chaperone, BiP. Finally, we found that loss of PfGRP170 function leads to the activation of the Plasmodium eIF2α kinase, PK4, suggesting a specific role for this protein in this parasite stress response pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Kudyba
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - David W Cobb
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Manuel A Fierro
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Anat Florentin
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Dragan Ljolje
- Malaria Branch and Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Balwan Singh
- Malaria Branch and Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Naomi W Lucchi
- Malaria Branch and Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Vasant Muralidharan
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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41
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Matthews KM, Kalanon M, de Koning-Ward TF. Uncoupling the Threading and Unfoldase Actions of Plasmodium HSP101 Reveals Differences in Export between Soluble and Insoluble Proteins. mBio 2019; 10:e01106-19. [PMID: 31164473 PMCID: PMC6550532 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01106-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites must export proteins into their erythrocytic host to survive. Exported proteins must cross the parasite plasma membrane (PPM) and the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) encasing the parasite to access the host cell. Crossing the PVM requires protein unfolding and passage through a translocon, the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX). In this study, we provide the first direct evidence that heat shock protein 101 (HSP101), a core component of PTEX, unfolds proteins for translocation across the PVM by creating transgenic Plasmodium parasites in which the unfoldase and translocation functions of HSP101 have become uncoupled. Strikingly, while these parasites could export native proteins, they were unable to translocate soluble, tightly folded reporter proteins bearing the Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) across the PVM into host erythrocytes under the same conditions. In contrast, an identical PEXEL reporter protein but harboring a transmembrane domain could be exported, suggesting that a prior unfolding step occurs at the PPM. Together, these results demonstrate that the export of parasite proteins is dependent on how these proteins are presented to the secretory pathway before they reach PTEX as well as their folded status. Accordingly, only tightly folded soluble proteins secreted into the vacuolar space and not proteins containing transmembrane domains or the majority of erythrocyte-stage exported proteins have an absolute requirement for the full unfoldase activity of HSP101 to be exported.IMPORTANCE The Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria export hundreds of proteins into their host red blood cell (RBC). These exported proteins drastically alter the structural and functional properties of the RBC and play critical roles in parasite virulence and survival. To access the RBC cytoplasm, parasite proteins must pass through the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX) located at the membrane interfacing the parasite and host cell. Our data provide evidence that HSP101, a component of PTEX, serves to unfold protein cargo requiring translocation. We also reveal that addition of a transmembrane domain to soluble cargo influences its ability to be translocated by parasites in which the HSP101 motor and unfolding activities have become uncoupled. Therefore, we propose that proteins with transmembrane domains use an alternative unfolding pathway prior to PTEX to facilitate export.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ming Kalanon
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
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42
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Yield improvement and enzymatic dissection of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin V. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 231:111188. [PMID: 31108131 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.111188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
To survive within a red blood cell (RBC), malaria parasites establish striking modifications to the permeability, rigidity and cytoadherence properties of the host cell. This is mediated by the export of hundreds of proteins from the parasite into the erythrocyte. Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin V (PfPMV), is an ER resident aspartic protease that processes proteins for export into the host erythrocyte, plays a crucial role in parasite virulence and survival and is considered a potential malaria drug target. Most attempts at its heterologous expression in Escherichia coli have resulted in mainly the production of insoluble proteins. In this study, we employed a multipurpose fusion tag to improve the production of PfPMV in E. coli. Recombinant PfPMVm, comprising residues 84-521, was substantially obtained in soluble form and could be purified in a single step, yielding a 3.7-fold increase in purified PfPMVm compared to previous reports. Additionally, we have mutated the catalytic residues (D118N and D365N), individually and together, and the unpaired cysteine residue C178 to evaluate the effects on catalytic efficiency. Mutation of D365 had more pronounced effects on the catalytic efficiency than that of D118, suggesting that the D365 may act as a catalytic nucleophile to activate the water molecule. The importance of C178 was also confirmed by the inhibition by metal ions, indicating that C178 is partially involved in the substrate recognition. Collectively, our results describe an improved system to produce recombinant PfPMVm in E. coli and dissect the amino acids involved in catalysis and substrate recognition.
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43
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Pool
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Health Innovation Manchester, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Ilaria Russo
- Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
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44
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Manner CK, Graef KM, Dent J. WIPO Re:Search: Catalyzing Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate Tropical Disease Drug Discovery and Development. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019; 4:tropicalmed4010053. [PMID: 30917506 PMCID: PMC6473380 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed4010053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical diseases, including malaria and a group of infections termed neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), pose enormous threats to human health and wellbeing globally. In concert with efforts to broaden access to current treatments, it is also critical to expand research and development (R&D) of new drugs that address therapeutic gaps and concerns associated with existing medications, including emergence of resistance. Limited commercial incentives, particularly compared to products for diseases prevalent in high-income countries, have hindered many pharmaceutical companies from contributing their immense product development know-how and resources to tropical disease R&D. In this article we present WIPO Re:Search, an international initiative co-led by BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as an innovative and impactful public-private partnership model that promotes cross-sector intellectual property sharing and R&D to accelerate tropical disease drug discovery and development. Importantly, WIPO Re:Search also drives progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through case studies, we illustrate how WIPO Re:Search empowers high-quality tropical disease drug discovery researchers from academic/non-profit organizations and small companies (including scientists in low- and middle-income countries) to leapfrog their R&D programs by accessing pharmaceutical industry resources that may not otherwise be available to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathyryne K Manner
- BIO Ventures for Global Health, 2101 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1950, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
| | - Katy M Graef
- BIO Ventures for Global Health, 2101 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1950, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
| | - Jennifer Dent
- BIO Ventures for Global Health, 2101 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1950, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
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45
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Matthews KM, Pitman EL, de Koning-Ward TF. Illuminating how malaria parasites export proteins into host erythrocytes. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13009. [PMID: 30656810 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites that cause the disease malaria have developed an elaborate trafficking pathway to facilitate the export of hundreds of effector proteins into their host cell, the erythrocyte. In this review, we outline how certain effector proteins contribute to parasite survival, virulence, and immune evasion. We also highlight how parasite proteins destined for export are recognised at the endoplasmic reticulum to facilitate entry into the export pathway and how the effector proteins are able to transverse the bounding parasitophorous vaculoar membrane via the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins to gain access to the host cell. Some of the gaps in our understanding of the export pathway are also presented. Finally, we examine the degree of conservation of some of the key components of the Plasmodium export pathway in closely related apicomplexan parasites, which may provide insight into how the diverse apicomplexan parasites have adapted to survival pressures encountered within their respective host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ethan L Pitman
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
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46
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Boonyalai N, Collins CR, Hackett F, Withers-Martinez C, Blackman MJ. Essentiality of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin V. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207621. [PMID: 30517136 PMCID: PMC6281190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite replicates within erythrocytes. The pathogenesis of clinical malaria is in large part due to the capacity of the parasite to remodel its host cell. To do this, intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum export more than 300 proteins that dramatically alter the morphology of the infected erythrocyte as well as its mechanical and adhesive properties. P. falciparum plasmepsin V (PfPMV) is an aspartic protease that processes proteins for export into the host erythrocyte and is thought to play a key role in parasite virulence and survival. However, although standard techniques for gene disruption as well as conditional protein knockdown have been previously attempted with the pfpmv gene, complete gene removal or knockdown was not achieved so direct genetic proof that PMV is an essential protein has not been established. Here we have used a conditional gene excision approach combining CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and DiCre-mediated recombination to functionally inactivate the pfpmv gene. The resulting mutant parasites displayed a severe growth defect. Detailed phenotypic analysis showed that development of the mutant parasites was arrested early in the ring-to-trophozoite transition in the erythrocytic cycle following gene excision. Our findings are the first to elucidate the effects of PMV gene disruption, showing that it is essential for parasite viability in asexual blood stages. The mutant parasites can now be used as a platform to further dissect the Plasmodium protein export pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonlawat Boonyalai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (NB), ; (MJB)
| | - Christine R. Collins
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Hackett
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Michael J. Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (NB), ; (MJB)
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47
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Loesbanluechai D, Kotanan N, de Cozar C, Kochakarn T, Ansbro MR, Chotivanich K, White NJ, Wilairat P, Lee MCS, Gamo FJ, Sanz LM, Chookajorn T, Kümpornsin K. Overexpression of plasmepsin II and plasmepsin III does not directly cause reduction in Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to artesunate, chloroquine and piperaquine. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 9:16-22. [PMID: 30580023 PMCID: PMC6304341 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin derivatives and their partner drugs in artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) have played a pivotal role in global malaria mortality reduction during the last two decades. The loss of artemisinin efficacy due to evolving drug-resistant parasites could become a serious global health threat. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is a well tolerated and generally highly effective ACT. The implementation of a partner drug in ACTs is critical in the control of emerging artemisinin resistance. Even though artemisinin is highly effective in parasite clearance, it is labile in the human body. A partner drug is necessary for killing the remaining parasites when the pulses of artemisinin have ceased. A population of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Cambodia and adjacent countries has become resistant to piperaquine. Increased copy number of the genes encoding the haemoglobinases Plasmepsin II and Plasmepsin III has been linked with piperaquine resistance by genome-wide association studies and in clinical trials, leading to the use of increased plasmepsin II/plasmepsin III copy number as a molecular marker for piperaquine resistance. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of plasmepsin II and plasmepsin III in the 3D7 genetic background failed to change the susceptibility of P. falciparum to artemisinin, chloroquine and piperaquine by both a standard dose-response analysis and a piperaquine survival assay. Whilst plasmepsin copy number polymorphism is currently implemented as a molecular surveillance resistance marker, further studies to discover the molecular basis of piperaquine resistance and potential epistatic interactions are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duangkamon Loesbanluechai
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Molecular Medicine Program, Multidisciplinary Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Namfon Kotanan
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Cristina de Cozar
- Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, 28760, Spain
| | - Theerarat Kochakarn
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Megan R Ansbro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA; Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Kesinee Chotivanich
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Nicholas J White
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom
| | - Prapon Wilairat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Marcus C S Lee
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Francisco Javier Gamo
- Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, 28760, Spain
| | - Laura Maria Sanz
- Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, 28760, Spain
| | - Thanat Chookajorn
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
| | - Krittikorn Kümpornsin
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom.
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48
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Meissner KA, Kronenberger T, Maltarollo VG, Trossini GHG, Wrenger C. Targeting the Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin V by ligand-based virtual screening. Chem Biol Drug Des 2018; 93:300-312. [PMID: 30320974 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating disease depending only on chemotherapy as treatment. However, medication is losing efficacy, and therefore, there is an urgent need for the discovery of novel pharmaceutics. Recently, plasmepsin V, an aspartic protease anchored in the endoplasmaic reticulum, was demonstrated as responsible for the trafficking of parasite-derived proteins to the erythrocytic surface and further validated as a drug target. In this sense, ligand-based virtual screening has been applied to design inhibitors that target plasmepsin V of P. falciparum (PMV). After screening 5.5 million compounds, four novel plasmepsin inhibitors have been identified which were subsequently analyzed for the potency at the cellular level. Since PMV is membrane-anchored, the verification in vivo by using transgenic PMV overexpressing P. falciparum cells has been performed in order to evaluate drug efficacy. Two lead compounds, revealing IC50 values were 44.2 and 19.1 μm, have been identified targeting plasmepsin V in vivo and do not significantly affect the cell viability of human cells up to 300 μm. We herein report the use of the consensus of individual virtual screening as a new technique to design new ligands, and we propose two new lead compounds as novel protease inhibitors to target malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Anna Meissner
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vinícius Gonçalves Maltarollo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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49
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Aspartyl Protease 5 Matures Dense Granule Proteins That Reside at the Host-Parasite Interface in Toxoplasma gondii. mBio 2018; 9:mBio.01796-18. [PMID: 30377279 PMCID: PMC6212819 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01796-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful human parasites. Central to its success is the arsenal of virulence proteins introduced into the infected host cell. Several of these virulence proteins require direct maturation by the aspartyl protease ASP5, and all require ASP5 for translocation into the host cell, yet the true number of ASP5 substrates and complete repertoire of effectors is currently unknown. Here we selectively enrich N-terminally derived peptides using Terminal Amine Isotopic Labeling of Substrates (TAILS) and use quantitative proteomics to reveal novel ASP5 substrates. We identify, using two different enrichment techniques, new ASP5 substrates and their specific cleavage sites. ASP5 substrates include two kinases and one phosphatase that reside at the host-parasite interface, which are important for infection. Toxoplasma gondii infects approximately 30% of the world’s population, causing disease primarily during pregnancy and in individuals with weakened immune systems. Toxoplasma secretes and exports effector proteins that modulate the host during infection, and several of these proteins are processed by the Golgi-associated aspartyl protease 5 (ASP5). Here, we identify ASP5 substrates by selectively enriching N-terminally derived peptides from wild-type and Δasp5 parasites. We reveal more than 2,000 unique Toxoplasma N-terminal peptides, mapping to both natural N termini and protease cleavage sites. Several of these peptides mapped directly downstream of the characterized ASP5 cleavage site, arginine-arginine-leucine (RRL). We validate candidates as true ASP5 substrates, revealing they are not processed in parasites lacking ASP5 or in wild-type parasites following mutation of the motif from RRL to ARL. All identified ASP5 substrates are dense granule proteins, and interestingly, none appear to be exported, thus differing from the analogous system in related Plasmodium spp. Instead we show that the majority of substrates reside within the parasitophorous vacuole (PV), and its membrane (the PVM), including two kinases and one phosphatase. We show that genetic deletion of WNG2 leads to attenuation in a mouse model, suggesting that this putative kinase is a new virulence factor in Toxoplasma. Collectively, these data constitute the first in-depth analyses of ASP5 substrates and shed new light on the role of ASP5 as a maturase of dense granule proteins during the Toxoplasma lytic cycle.
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50
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Charnaud SC, Jonsdottir TK, Sanders PR, Bullen HE, Dickerman BK, Kouskousis B, Palmer CS, Pietrzak HM, Laumaea AE, Erazo AB, McHugh E, Tilley L, Crabb BS, Gilson PR. Spatial organization of protein export in malaria parasite blood stages. Traffic 2018; 19:605-623. [DOI: 10.1111/tra.12577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | | | | | | | - Betty Kouskousis
- Burnet Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Monash Micro Imaging, Monash University; Melbourne Australia
| | - Catherine S. Palmer
- Burnet Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Monash Micro Imaging, Monash University; Melbourne Australia
| | | | | | | | - Emma McHugh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - Leann Tilley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University; Melbourne Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University; Melbourne Australia
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