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Ren Z, Yang Z, Yuan H, Song Y, He H, Nie L, Wang X, Yuan ZG, Zhang XX. 4D label-free proteomic analysis reveals key potential pathways of Toxoplasma invasion into the central nervous system. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112618. [PMID: 38996663 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112618] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a successful parasite capable of infecting a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including people, livestock, and wildlife. In individuals with intact immune function, T. gondii can invade the host brain tissue by altering the blood-brain barrier permeability, leading to chronic infection. Proteins play crucial regulatory roles in disease progression. By monitoring changes in proteins, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying host resistance to infection and the potential pathogenic mechanisms of pathogens can be gained. This study analyzed differential protein expression and associated signaling pathways in mouse brain tissues during acute and chronic T. gondii infection using proteomic and bioinformatics methods. The results showed that during acute and chronic T. gondii infection stages, 74 and 498 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in mouse brain tissue, respectively. Among them, 45 and 309 were up-regulated, while 29 and 189 were down-regulated. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that some of these DEPs were implicated in host immunity, pathogen immune evasion, and T. gondii invasion of the central nervous system, particularly interleukin production and secretion, complement system activation, and alterations in tight junction pathways. Notably, the upregulation of Rab13 was identified as a potential molecular mechanism for T. gondii to regulate blood-brain barrier permeability and facilitate central nervous system invasion. Our findings provided fundamental data for understanding host control of Toxoplasmosis infection and offered new insights into parasite immune evasion and invasion mechanisms within the central nervous system. These insights are crucial for developing strategies to prevent the establishment of chronic T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowen Ren
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baishigang, Wushan Street, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Zipeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yining Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Houjing He
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linchong Nie
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baishigang, Wushan Street, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Zi-Guo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xiu-Xiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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2
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Cabral G, Moss WJ, Brown KM. Proteomic approaches for protein kinase substrate identification in Apicomplexa. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 259:111633. [PMID: 38821187 PMCID: PMC11194964 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111633] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Apicomplexa is a phylum of protist parasites, notable for causing life-threatening diseases including malaria, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and babesiosis. Apicomplexan pathogenesis is generally a function of lytic replication, dissemination, persistence, host cell modification, and immune subversion. Decades of research have revealed essential roles for apicomplexan protein kinases in establishing infections and promoting pathogenesis. Protein kinases modify their substrates by phosphorylating serine, threonine, tyrosine, or other residues, resulting in rapid functional changes in the target protein. Post-translational modification by phosphorylation can activate or inhibit a substrate, alter its localization, or promote interactions with other proteins or ligands. Deciphering direct kinase substrates is crucial to understand mechanisms of kinase signaling, yet can be challenging due to the transient nature of kinase phosphorylation and potential for downstream indirect phosphorylation events. However, with recent advances in proteomic approaches, our understanding of kinase function in Apicomplexa has improved dramatically. Here, we discuss methods that have been used to identify kinase substrates in apicomplexan parasites, classifying them into three main categories: i) kinase interactome, ii) indirect phosphoproteomics and iii) direct labeling. We briefly discuss each approach, including their advantages and limitations, and highlight representative examples from the Apicomplexa literature. Finally, we conclude each main category by introducing prospective approaches from other fields that would benefit kinase substrate identification in Apicomplexa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Cabral
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - William J Moss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kevin M Brown
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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3
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Bracha S, Johnson HJ, Pranckevicius NA, Catto F, Economides AE, Litvinov S, Hassi K, Rigoli MT, Cheroni C, Bonfanti M, Valenti A, Stucchi S, Attreya S, Ross PD, Walsh D, Malachi N, Livne H, Eshel R, Krupalnik V, Levin D, Cobb S, Koumoutsakos P, Caporale N, Testa G, Aguzzi A, Koshy AA, Sheiner L, Rechavi O. Engineering Toxoplasma gondii secretion systems for intracellular delivery of multiple large therapeutic proteins to neurons. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:2051-2072. [PMID: 39075233 PMCID: PMC11306108 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01750-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Delivering macromolecules across biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier limits their application in vivo. Previous work has demonstrated that Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that naturally travels from the human gut to the central nervous system (CNS), can deliver proteins to host cells. Here we engineered T. gondii's endogenous secretion systems, the rhoptries and dense granules, to deliver multiple large (>100 kDa) therapeutic proteins into neurons via translational fusions to toxofilin and GRA16. We demonstrate delivery in cultured cells, brain organoids and in vivo, and probe protein activity using imaging, pull-down assays, scRNA-seq and fluorescent reporters. We demonstrate robust delivery after intraperitoneal administration in mice and characterize 3D distribution throughout the brain. As proof of concept, we demonstrate GRA16-mediated brain delivery of the MeCP2 protein, a putative therapeutic target for Rett syndrome. By characterizing the potential and current limitations of the system, we aim to guide future improvements that will be required for broader application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahar Bracha
- Department of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School for Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Hannah J Johnson
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Immunobiology, College of Medicine, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Nicole A Pranckevicius
- Centre for Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Francesca Catto
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Athena E Economides
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sergey Litvinov
- Computational Science and Engineering Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Karoliina Hassi
- Centre for Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Marco Tullio Rigoli
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cheroni
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Valenti
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah Stucchi
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Shruti Attreya
- Undergraduate Biology Research Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Paul D Ross
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Daniel Walsh
- Centre for Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stuart Cobb
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petros Koumoutsakos
- Computational Science and Engineering Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nicolò Caporale
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Anita A Koshy
- Departments of Neurology and Immunobiology, College of Medicine, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Lilach Sheiner
- Centre for Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Sagol School for Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Tang L, Sabi MM, Fu M, Guan J, Wang Y, Xia T, Zheng K, Qu H, Han B. Host cell manipulation by microsporidia secreted effectors: Insights into intracellular pathogenesis. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2024:e13029. [PMID: 39030770 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Microsporidia are prolific producers of effector molecules, encompassing both proteins and nonproteinaceous effectors, such as toxins, small RNAs, and small peptides. These secreted effectors play a pivotal role in the pathogenicity of microsporidia, enabling them to subvert the host's innate immunity and co-opt metabolic pathways to fuel their own growth and proliferation. However, the genomes of microsporidia, despite falling within the size range of bacteria, exhibit significant reductions in both structural and physiological features, thereby affecting the repertoire of secretory effectors to varying extents. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding how microsporidia modulate host cells through the secretion of effectors, highlighting current challenges and proposed solutions in deciphering the complexities of microsporidial secretory effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Tang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Musa Makongoro Sabi
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Ming Fu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Jingyu Guan
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Yongliang Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Tian Xia
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Kai Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
| | - Hongnan Qu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Shandong University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Shandong University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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5
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Dangoudoubiyam S, Norris JK, Namasivayam S, de Paula Baptista R, Cannes do Nascimento N, Camp J, Schardl CL, Kissinger JC, Howe DK. Temporal gene expression during asexual development of the apicomplexan Sarcocystis neurona. mSphere 2024; 9:e0011124. [PMID: 38809064 PMCID: PMC11332336 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00111-24] [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: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Asexual replication in the apicomplexan Sarcocystis neurona involves two main developmental stages: the motile extracellular merozoite and the sessile intracellular schizont. Merozoites invade host cells and transform into schizonts that undergo replication via endopolygeny to form multiple (64) daughter merozoites that are invasive to new host cells. Given that the capabilities of the merozoite vary significantly from the schizont, the patterns of transcript levels throughout the asexual lifecycle were determined and compared in this study. RNA-Seq data were generated from extracellular merozoites and four intracellular schizont development time points. Of the 6,938 genes annotated in the S. neurona genome, 6,784 were identified in the transcriptome. Of these, 4,111 genes exhibited significant differential expression between the merozoite and at least one schizont development time point. Transcript levels were significantly higher for 2,338 genes in the merozoite and 1,773 genes in the schizont stages. Included in this list were genes encoding the secretory pathogenesis determinants (SPDs), which encompass the surface antigen and SAG-related sequence (SAG/SRS) and the secretory organelle proteins of the invasive zoite stage (micronemes, rhoptries, and dense granules). As anticipated, many of the S. neurona SPD gene transcripts were abundant in merozoites. However, several SPD transcripts were elevated in intracellular schizonts, suggesting roles unrelated to host cell invasion and the initial establishment of the intracellular niche. The hypothetical genes that are potentially unique to the genus Sarcocystis are of particular interest. Their conserved expression patterns are instructive for future investigations into the possible functions of these putative Sarcocystis-unique genes. IMPORTANCE The genus Sarcocystis is an expansive clade within the Apicomplexa, with the species S. neurona being an important cause of neurological disease in horses. Research to decipher the biology of S. neurona and its host-pathogen interactions can be enhanced by gene expression data. This study has identified conserved apicomplexan orthologs in S. neurona, putative Sarcocystis-unique genes, and gene transcripts abundant in the merozoite and schizont stages. Importantly, we have identified distinct clusters of genes with transcript levels peaking during different intracellular schizont development time points, reflecting active gene expression changes across endopolygeny. Each cluster also has subsets of transcripts with unknown functions, and investigation of these seemingly Sarcocystis-unique transcripts will provide insights into the interesting biology of this parasite genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Jamie K. Norris
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Sivaranjani Namasivayam
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Rodrigo de Paula Baptista
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Naila Cannes do Nascimento
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Joseph Camp
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Jessica C. Kissinger
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Daniel K. Howe
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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da Silva RJ, Cabo LF, George JL, Cahoon LA, Yang L, Coyne CB, Boyle JP. The trophoblast surface becomes refractory to adhesion by congenitally transmitted Toxoplasma gondii and Listeria monocytogenes during cytotrophoblast to syncytiotrophoblast development. mSphere 2024; 9:e0074823. [PMID: 38771057 PMCID: PMC11332349 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00748-23] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The placenta is a critical barrier against viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic pathogens. For most teratogenic pathogens, the precise molecular mechanisms of placental resistance are still being unraveled. Given the importance of understanding these mechanisms and challenges in replicating trophoblast-pathogen interactions using in vitro models, we tested an existing stem-cell-derived model of trophoblast development for its relevance to infection with Toxoplasma gondii. We grew human trophoblast stem cells (TSCT) under conditions leading to either syncytiotrophoblast (TSSYN) or cytotrophoblast (TSCYT) and infected them with T. gondii. We evaluated T. gondii proliferation and invasion, cell ultrastructure, as well as for transcriptome changes after infection. TSSYNs cells showed similar ultrastructure compared to primary cells and villous explants when analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a resistance to T. gondii adhesion could be visualized on the SEM level. Furthermore, TSSYNs were highly refractory to parasite adhesion and replication, while TSCYTs were not. RNA-seq data on mock-treated and infected cells identified differences between cell types as well as how they responded to T. gondii infection. We also evaluated if TSSC-derived SYNs and CYTs had distinct resistance profiles to another vertically transmitted facultative intracellular pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. We demonstrate that TSSYNs are highly resistant to L. monocytogenes, while TSCYTs are not. Like T. gondii, TSSYN resistance to L. monocytogenes was at the level of bacterial adhesion. Altogether, our data indicate that stem-cell-derived trophoblasts recapitulate resistance profiles of primary cells to T. gondii and highlight the critical importance of the placental surface in cell-autonomous resistance to teratogens.IMPORTANCECongenital toxoplasmosis can cause a devastating consequence to the fetus. To reach the fetus's tissues, Toxoplasma gondii must cross the placenta barrier. However, how this parasite crosses the placenta and the precise molecular mechanisms of placental resistance to this parasite are still unknown. In this study, we aimed to characterize a new cellular model of human trophoblast stem cells to determine their resistance, susceptibility, and response to T. gondii. Syncytiotrophoblast derived from trophoblast stem cells recapitulate the resistance profile similarly to placenta cells. We also showed that these cells are highly resistant to Listeria monocytogenes, at the level of bacterial adhesion. Our results suggest that resisting pathogen adhesion/attachment may be a generalized mechanism of syncytiotrophoblast resistance, and trophoblast stem cells represent a promising model to investigate cell-intrinsic mechanisms of resistance to pathogen adhesion and replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela J. da Silva
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leah F. Cabo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jada L. George
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laty A. Cahoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Liheng Yang
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carolyn B. Coyne
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jon P. Boyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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7
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Hu Z, Zhang Y, Xie Y, Yang J, Tang H, Fan B, Zeng K, Han Z, Lu J, Jiang H, Peng W, Li H, Chen H, Wu S, Shen B, Lun ZR, Yu X. The Toxoplasma Effector GRA4 Hijacks Host TBK1 to Oppositely Regulate Anti-T. Gondii Immunity and Tumor Immunotherapy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2400952. [PMID: 39031880 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)-associated polymorphic effector proteins are crucial in parasite development and regulating host anti-T. gondii immune responses. However, the mechanism remains obscure. Here, it is shown that Toxoplasma effector dense granules 4 (GRA4) restricts host IFN-I activation. Infection with Δgra4 mutant T. gondii strain induces stronger IFN-I responses and poses a severe threat to host health. Mechanistically, GRA4 binds to phosphorylated TBK1 to promote TRIM27-catalyzed K48-ubiquitination at Lys251/Lys372 residues, which enhances its recognition by autophagy receptor p62, ultimately leading to TBK1 autophagic degradation. Furthermore, an avirulent Δgra4 strain (ME49Δompdc/gra4) is constructed for tumor immunotherapy due to its ability to enhance IFN-I production. Earlier vaccination with ME49Δompdc/gra4 confers complete host resistance to the tumor compared with the classical ME49Δompdc treatment. Notably, ME49Δompdc/gra4 vaccination induces a specific CD64+MAR-1+CD11b+ dendritic cell subset, thereby enhancing T cell anti-tumor responses. Overall, these findings identify the negative role of T. gondii GRA4 in modulating host IFN-I signaling and suggest that GRA4 can be a potential target for the development of T. gondii vaccines and tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Hu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Yufen Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yingchao Xie
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jianwu Yang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Haotian Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Bolin Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Ke Zeng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhongxin Han
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jiansen Lu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- Department of Joint Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510900, China
| | - Huaji Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- Yue Bei People's Hospital Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Wenqiang Peng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Hongyu Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Huadan Chen
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Sha Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhao-Rong Lun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China
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8
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Brühlmann F, Perry C, Griessen C, Gunasekera K, Reymond JL, Naguleswaran A, Rottenberg S, Woods K, Olias P. TurboID mapping reveals the exportome of secreted intrinsically disordered proteins in the transforming parasite Theileria annulata. mBio 2024; 15:e0341223. [PMID: 38747635 PMCID: PMC11237503 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03412-23] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Theileria annulata is a tick-transmitted apicomplexan parasite that gained the unique ability among parasitic eukaryotes to transform its host cell, inducing a fatal cancer-like disease in cattle. Understanding the mechanistic interplay between the host cell and malignant Theileria species that drives this transformation requires the identification of responsible parasite effector proteins. In this study, we used TurboID-based proximity labeling, which unbiasedly identified secreted parasite proteins within host cell compartments. By fusing TurboID to nuclear export or localization signals, we biotinylated proteins in the vicinity of the ligase enzyme in the nucleus or cytoplasm of infected macrophages, followed by mass spectrometry analysis. Our approach revealed with high confidence nine nuclear and four cytosolic candidate parasite proteins within the host cell compartments, eight of which had no orthologs in non-transforming T. orientalis. Strikingly, all eight of these proteins are predicted to be highly intrinsically disordered proteins. We discovered a novel tandem arrayed protein family, nuclear intrinsically disordered proteins (NIDP) 1-4, featuring diverse functions predicted by conserved protein domains. Particularly, NIDP2 exhibited a biphasic host cell-cycle-dependent localization, interacting with the EB1/CD2AP/CLASP1 parasite membrane complex at the schizont surface and the tumor suppressor stromal antigen 2 (STAG2), a cohesion complex subunit, in the host nucleus. In addition to STAG2, numerous NIDP2-associated host nuclear proteins implicated in various cancers were identified, shedding light on the potential role of the T. annulata exported protein family NIDP in host cell transformation and cancer-related pathways.IMPORTANCETurboID proximity labeling was used to identify secreted proteins of Theileria annulata, an apicomplexan parasite responsible for a fatal, proliferative disorder in cattle that represents a significant socio-economic burden in North Africa, central Asia, and India. Our investigation has provided important insights into the unique host-parasite interaction, revealing secreted parasite proteins characterized by intrinsically disordered protein structures. Remarkably, these proteins are conspicuously absent in non-transforming Theileria species, strongly suggesting their central role in the transformative processes within host cells. Our study identified a novel tandem arrayed protein family, with nuclear intrinsically disordered protein 2 emerging as a central player interacting with established tumor genes. Significantly, this work represents the first unbiased screening for exported proteins in Theileria and contributes essential insights into the molecular intricacies behind the malignant transformation of immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Brühlmann
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Perry
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Kapila Gunasekera
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Sven Rottenberg
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kerry Woods
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Olias
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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9
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Haskins BE, Gullicksrud JA, Wallbank BA, Dumaine JE, Guérin A, Cohn IS, O'Dea KM, Pardy RD, Merolle MI, Shallberg LA, Hunter EN, Byerly JH, Smith EJ, Buenconsejo GY, McLeod BI, Christian DA, Striepen B, Hunter CA. Dendritic cell-mediated responses to secreted Cryptosporidium effectors promote parasite-specific CD8 + T cell responses. Mucosal Immunol 2024; 17:387-401. [PMID: 38508522 PMCID: PMC11193387 DOI: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2024.03.003] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium causes debilitating diarrheal disease in patients with primary and acquired defects in T cell function. However, it has been a challenge to understand how this infection generates T cell responses and how they mediate parasite control. Here, Cryptosporidium was engineered to express a parasite effector protein (MEDLE-2) that contains the major histocompatibility complex-I restricted SIINFEKL epitope which is recognized by T cell receptor transgenic OT-I(OVA-TCR-I) clusters of differentiation (CD)8+ T cells. These modified parasites induced expansion of endogenous SIINFEKL-specific and OT-I CD8+ T cells that were a source of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) that could restrict growth of Cryptosporidium. This T cell response was dependent on the translocation of the effector and similar results were observed with another secreted parasite effector (rhoptry protein 1). Although infection and these translocated effector proteins are restricted to intestinal epithelial cells, type 1 conventional dendritic cells were required to generate CD8+ T cell responses to these model antigens. These data sets highlight Cryptosporidium effectors as potential targets of the immune system and suggest that crosstalk between enterocytes and type 1 conventional dendritic cells is crucial for CD8+ T cell responses to Cryptosporidium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanne E Haskins
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Jodi A Gullicksrud
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; Cell Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bethan A Wallbank
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Jennifer E Dumaine
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Amandine Guérin
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ian S Cohn
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Keenan M O'Dea
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ryan D Pardy
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Maria I Merolle
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Lindsey A Shallberg
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Emma N Hunter
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Jessica H Byerly
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Eleanor J Smith
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Gracyn Y Buenconsejo
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Briana I McLeod
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - David A Christian
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
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10
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Li J, Fan Y, Li N, Guo Y, Wang W, Feng K, He W, Li F, Huang J, Xu Y, Xiao L, Feng Y. Comparative genomics analysis reveals sequence characteristics potentially related to host preference in Cryptosporidium xiaoi. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:379-390. [PMID: 38492779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.03.004] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. are important diarrhea-associated pathogens in humans and livestock. Among the known species, Cryptosporidium xiaoi, which causes cryptosporidiosis in sheep and goats, was previously recognized as a genotype of the bovine-specific Cryptosporidium bovis based on their high sequence identity in the ssrRNA gene. However, the lack of genomic data has limited characterization of the genetic differences between the two closely related species. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of two C. xiaoi isolates and performed comparative genomic analysis to identify the sequence uniqueness of this ovine-adapted species compared with other Cryptosporidium spp. Our results showed that C. xiaoi is genetically related to C. bovis as shown by their 95.8% genomic identity and similar gene content. Consistent with this, both C. xiaoi and C. bovis appear to have fewer genes encoding mitochondrial metabolic enzymes and invasion-related protein families. However, they appear to possess several species-specific genes. Further analysis indicates that the sequence differences between these two Cryptosporidium spp. are mainly in 24 highly polymorphic genes, half of which are located in the subtelomeric regions. Some of these subtelomeric genes encode secretory proteins that have undergone positive selection. In addition, the genomes of two C. xiaoi isolates, identified as subtypes XXIIIf and XXIIIh, share 99.9% nucleotide sequence identity, with six highly divergent genes encoding putative secretory proteins. Therefore, these species-specific genes and sequence polymorphism in subtelomeric genes probably contribute to the different host preference of C. xiaoi and C. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yingying Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Na Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yaqiong Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Weijian Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Kangli Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wei He
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Falei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jianbo Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yanhua Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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11
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Bando H, Murata Y, Han Y, Sugi T, Fukuda Y, Bzik DJ, Fox BA, Kato K. Toxoplasma gondii chitinase-like protein TgCLP1 regulates the parasite cyst burden. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1359888. [PMID: 38828265 PMCID: PMC11140023 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1359888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma, an important intracellular parasite of humans and animals, causes life-threatening toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised individuals. Although Toxoplasma secretory proteins during acute infection (tachyzoite, which divides rapidly and causes inflammation) have been extensively characterized, those involved in chronic infection (bradyzoite, which divides slowly and is surrounded by a cyst wall) remain uncertain. Regulation of the cyst wall is essential to the parasite life cycle, and polysaccharides, such as chitin, in the cyst wall are necessary to sustain latent infection. Toxoplasma secretory proteins during the bradyzoite stage may have important roles in regulating the cyst wall via polysaccharides. Here, we focused on characterizing the hypothetical T. gondii chitinase, chitinase-like protein 1 (TgCLP1). We found that the chitinase-like domain containing TgCLP1 is partially present in the bradyzoite microneme and confirmed, albeit partially, its previous identification in the tachyzoite microneme. Furthermore, although parasites lacking TgCLP1 could convert from tachyzoites to bradyzoites and make an intact cyst wall, they failed to convert from bradyzoites to tachyzoites, indicating that TgCLP1 is necessary for bradyzoite reactivation. Taken together, our findings deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of recrudescence and could contribute to the development of novel strategies for the control of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Bando
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Osaki, Miyagi, Japan
- Department of Parasitology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuho Murata
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yongmei Han
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Sugi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Division of Collaboration and Education, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Fukuda
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Osaki, Miyagi, Japan
| | - David J. Bzik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Barbara A. Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Kentaro Kato
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Osaki, Miyagi, Japan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
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12
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Zhang ZW, Wang M, Sun LX, Elsheikha HM, Lei CL, Wang JL, Fu BQ, Luo JX, Zhu XQ, Li TT. Trx4, a novel thioredoxin protein, is important for Toxoplasma gondii fitness. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:178. [PMID: 38576040 PMCID: PMC10996207 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06259-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To successfully replicate within the host cell, Toxoplasma gondii employs several mechanisms to overcome the host cell defenses and mitigate the harmful effects of the free radicals resulting from its own metabolic processes using effectors such as thioredoxin proteins. In this study, we characterize the location and functions of a newly identified thioredoxin in T. gondii, which was named Trx4. METHODS We characterized the functional role of Trx4 in T. gondii Type I RH and Type II Pru strains by gene knockout and studied its subcellular localization by endogenous protein HA tagging using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. The enzyme-catalyzed proximity labeling technique, the TurboID system, was employed to identify the proteins in proximity to Trx4. RESULTS Trx4 was identified as a dense granule protein of T. gondii predominantly expressed in the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and was partially co-localized with GRA1 and GRA5. Functional analysis showed that deletion of trx4 markedly influenced the parasite lytic cycle, resulting in impaired host cell invasion capacity in both RH and Pru strains. Mutation of Trx domains in Trx4 in RH strain revealed that two Trx domains were important for the parasite invasion. By utilizing the TurboID system to biotinylate proteins in proximity to Trx4, we identified a substantial number of proteins, some of which are novel, and others are previously characterized, predominantly distributed in the dense granules. In addition, we uncovered three novel proteins co-localized with Trx4. Intriguingly, deletion of trx4 did not affect the localization of these three proteins. Finally, a virulence assay demonstrated that knockout of trx4 resulted in a significant attenuation of virulence and a significant reduction in brain cyst loads in mice. CONCLUSIONS Trx4 plays an important role in T. gondii invasion and virulence in Type I RH strain and Type II Pru strain. Combining the TurboID system with CRISPR-Cas9 technique revealed many PV-localized proximity proteins associated with Trx4. These findings suggest a versatile role of Trx4 in mediating the processes that occur in this distinctive intracellular membrane-bound vacuolar compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Xiu Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Cheng-Lin Lei
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610213, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Quan Fu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610213, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Xun Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ting-Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610213, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Hasan T, Shimoda N, Nakamura S, Fox BA, Bzik DJ, Ushio-Watanabe N, Nishikawa Y. Protective efficacy of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein 15 against toxoplasmosis in C57BL/6 mice. Vaccine 2024; 42:2299-2309. [PMID: 38429153 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.062] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a pervasive protozoan parasite that is responsible for significant zoonoses. A wide array of vaccines using different effector molecules of T. gondii have been studied worldwide to control toxoplasmosis. None of the existing vaccines are sufficiently effective to confer protective immunity. Among the different Toxoplasma-derived effector molecules, T. gondii dense granule protein 15 from the type II strain (GRA15 (II)) was recently characterized as an immunomodulatory molecule that induced host immunity via NF-κB. Therefore, we assessed the immunostimulatory and protective efficacy of recombinant GRA15 (II) (rGRA15) against T. gondii infection in a C57BL/6 mouse model. We observed that rGRA15 treatment increased the production of IL-12p40 from mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Immunization of mice with rGRA15 induced the production of anti-TgGRA15-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2c antibodies. The rGRA15-sensitized spleen cells from mice inoculated with the same antigen strongly promoted spleen cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. Immunization with rGRA15 significantly enhanced the survival rate of mice and dramatically decreased parasite burden in mice challenged with the Pru (type II) strain. These results suggested that rGRA15 triggered humoral and cellular immune responses to control infection. However, all of the immunized mice died when challenged with the GRA15-deficient Pru strain or the RH (type I) strain. These results suggest that GRA15 (II)-dependent immunity plays a crucial role in protection against challenge infection with the type II strain of T. gondii. This study is the first report to show GRA15 (II) as a recombinant vaccine antigen against Toxoplasma infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanjila Hasan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi 4225, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
| | - Naomi Shimoda
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
| | - Shu Nakamura
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Barbara A Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
| | - David J Bzik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
| | - Nanako Ushio-Watanabe
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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14
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Wang Y, Hollingsworth LR, Sangaré LO, Paredes-Santos TC, Krishnamurthy S, Penn BH, Wu H, Saeij JPJ. Host E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH mediates Toxoplasma gondii effector GRA35-triggered NLRP1 inflammasome activation and cell-autonomous immunity. mBio 2024; 15:e0330223. [PMID: 38376248 PMCID: PMC10936166 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03302-23] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that can activate the NLRP1 inflammasome leading to macrophage pyroptosis in Lewis rats, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR screen and identified the dense granule proteins GRA35, GRA42, and GRA43 as the Toxoplasma effectors mediating cell death in Lewis rat macrophages. GRA35 localizes on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, where it interacts with the host E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH. Inhibition of proteasome activity or ITCH knockout prevented pyroptosis in Toxoplasma-infected Lewis rat macrophages, consistent with the "NLRP1 functional degradation model." However, there was no evidence that ITCH directly ubiquitinates or interacts with rat NLRP1. We also found that GRA35-ITCH interaction affected Toxoplasma fitness in IFNγ-activated human fibroblasts, likely due to ITCH's role in recruiting ubiquitin and the parasite-restriction factor RNF213 to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane. These findings identify a new role of host E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH in mediating effector-triggered immunity, a critical concept that involves recognizing intracellular pathogens and initiating host innate immune responses.IMPORTANCEEffector-triggered immunity represents an innate immune defense mechanism that plays a crucial role in sensing and controlling intracellular pathogen infection. The NLRP1 inflammasome in the Lewis rats can detect Toxoplasma infection, which triggers proptosis in infected macrophages and eliminates the parasite's replication niche. The work reported here revealed that host E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH is able to recognize and interact with Toxoplasma effector protein GRA35 localized on the parasite-host interface, leading to NLRP1 inflammasome activation in Lewis rat macrophages. Furthermore, ITCH-GRA35 interaction contributes to the restriction of Toxoplasma in human fibroblasts stimulated by IFNγ. Thus, this research provides valuable insights into understanding pathogen recognition and restriction mediated by host E3 ubiquitin ligase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - L. Robert Hollingsworth
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lamba Omar Sangaré
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Tatiana C. Paredes-Santos
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Shruthi Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Bennett H. Penn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, California, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeroen P. J. Saeij
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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15
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Lüder CGK. IFNs in host defence and parasite immune evasion during Toxoplasma gondii infections. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356216. [PMID: 38384452 PMCID: PMC10879624 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokines with diverse functions in host resistance to pathogens and in immune regulation. Type II IFN, i.e. IFN-γ, is widely recognized as a major mediator of resistance to intracellular pathogens, including the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. More recently, IFN-α/β, i.e. type I IFNs, and IFN-λ (type III IFN) have been identified to also play important roles during T. gondii infections. This parasite is a widespread pathogen of humans and animals, and it is a model organism to study cell-mediated immune responses to intracellular infection. Its success depends, among other factors, on the ability to counteract the IFN system, both at the level of IFN-mediated gene expression and at the level of IFN-regulated effector molecules. Here, I review recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IFN-mediated host resistance and immune regulation during T. gondii infections. I also discuss those mechanisms that T. gondii has evolved to efficiently evade IFN-mediated immunity. Knowledge of these fascinating host-parasite interactions and their underlying signalling machineries is crucial for a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis, and it might also identify potential targets of parasite-directed or host-directed supportive therapies to combat the parasite more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten G. K. Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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16
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ten Hoeve AL, Rodriguez ME, Säflund M, Michel V, Magimel L, Ripoll A, Yu T, Hakimi MA, Saeij JPJ, Ozata DM, Barragan A. Hypermigration of macrophages through the concerted action of GRA effectors on NF-κB/p38 signaling and host chromatin accessibility potentiates Toxoplasma dissemination. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.06.579146. [PMID: 38370679 PMCID: PMC10871220 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.06.579146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Mononuclear phagocytes facilitate the dissemination of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we report how a set of secreted parasite effector proteins from dense granule organelles (GRA) orchestrates dendritic cell-like chemotactic and pro-inflammatory activation of parasitized macrophages. These effects enabled efficient dissemination of the type II T. gondii lineage, a highly prevalent genotype in humans. We identify novel functions for effectors GRA15 and GRA24 in promoting CCR7-mediated macrophage chemotaxis by acting on NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, respectively, with contributions of GRA16/18 and counter-regulation by effector TEEGR. Further, GRA28 boosted chromatin accessibility and GRA15/24/NF-κB-dependent transcription at the Ccr7 gene locus in primary macrophages. In vivo, adoptively transferred macrophages infected with wild-type T. gondii outcompeted macrophages infected with a GRA15/24 double mutant in migrating to secondary organs in mice. The data show that T. gondii, rather than being passively shuttled, actively promotes its dissemination by inducing a finely regulated pro-migratory state in parasitized human and murine phagocytes via co-operating polymorphic GRA effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne L. ten Hoeve
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matias E. Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Säflund
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Valentine Michel
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lucas Magimel
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Albert Ripoll
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tianxiong Yu
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Jeroen P. J. Saeij
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616 California, USA
| | - Deniz M. Ozata
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonio Barragan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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17
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Imhof D, Hänggeli KPA, De Sousa MCF, Vigneswaran A, Hofmann L, Amdouni Y, Boubaker G, Müller J, Hemphill A. Working towards the development of vaccines and chemotherapeutics against neosporosis-With all of its ups and downs-Looking ahead. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2024; 124:91-154. [PMID: 38754928 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan and obligatory intracellular parasite, which is the leading cause of reproductive failure in cattle and affects other farm and domestic animals, but also induces neuromuscular disease in dogs of all ages. In cattle, neosporosis is an important health problem, and has a considerable economic impact. To date there is no protective vaccine or chemotherapeutic treatment on the market. Immuno-prophylaxis has long been considered as the best control measure. Proteins involved in host cell interaction and invasion, as well as antigens mediating inflammatory responses have been the most frequently assessed vaccine targets. However, despite considerable efforts no effective vaccine has been introduced to the market to date. The development of effective compounds to limit the effects of vertical transmission of N. caninum tachyzoites has emerged as an alternative or addition to vaccination, provided suitable targets and safe and efficacious drugs can be identified. Additionally, the combination of both treatment strategies might be interesting to further increase protectivity against N. caninum infections and to decrease the duration of treatment and the risk of potential drug resistance. Well-established and standardized animal infection models are key factors for the evaluation of promising vaccine and compound candidates. The vast majority of experimental animal experiments concerning neosporosis have been performed in mice, although in recent years the numbers of experimental studies in cattle and sheep have increased. In this review, we discuss the recent findings concerning the progress in drug and vaccine development against N. caninum infections in mice and ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Imhof
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Kai Pascal Alexander Hänggeli
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Cristina Ferreira De Sousa
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anitha Vigneswaran
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Larissa Hofmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yosra Amdouni
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ghalia Boubaker
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Müller
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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18
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Zheng XN, Sun LX, Elsheikha HM, Li TT, Gao J, Wu XJ, Zhang ZW, Wang M, Fu BQ, Zhu XQ, Wang JL. A newly characterized dense granule protein (GRA76) is important for the growth and virulence of Toxoplasma gondii. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:109-121. [PMID: 37832712 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.09.001] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenicity of the zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii largely depends on the secretion of effector proteins into the extracellular milieu and host cell cytosol, including the dense granule proteins (GRAs). The protein-encoding gene TGME49_299780 was previously identified as a contributor to parasite fitness. However, its involvement in parasite growth, virulence and infectivity in vitro and in vivo remains unknown. Here, we comprehensively examined the role of this new protein, termed GRA76, in parasite pathogenicity. Subcellular localization revealed high expression of GRA76 in tachyzoites inside the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). However, its expression was significantly decreased in bradyzoites. A CRISPR-Cas9 approach was used to knock out the gra76 gene in the T. gondii type I RH strain and type II Pru strain. The in vitro plaque assays and intracellular replication showed the involvement of GRA76 in replication of RH and Pru strains. Deletion of the gra76 gene significantly decreased parasite virulence, and reduced the brain cyst burden in mice. Using RNA sequencing, we detected a significant increase in the expression of bradyzoite-associated genes such as BAG1 and LDH2 in the PruΔgra76 strain compared with the wild-type Pru strain. Using an in vitro bradyzoite differentiation assay, we showed that loss of GRA76 significantly increased the propensity for parasites to form bradyzoites. Immunization with PruΔgra76 conferred partial protection against acute and chronic infection in mice. These findings show the important role of GRA76 in the pathogenesis of T. gondii and highlight the potential of PruΔgra76 as a candidate for a live-attenuated vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Nan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province 030801, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Xiu Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ting-Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610213, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province 030801, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Jing Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province 030801, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610213, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Quan Fu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610213, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province 030801, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jin-Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China; Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610213, People's Republic of China.
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19
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Cudjoe O, Afful R, Hagan TA. Toxoplasma-host endoplasmic reticulum interaction: How T. gondii activates unfolded protein response and modulates immune response. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2024; 6:100223. [PMID: 38352129 PMCID: PMC10861954 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2024.100223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a neurotropic single-celled zoonotic parasite that can infect human beings and animals. Infection with T. gondii is usually asymptomatic in immune-competent individual, however, it can cause symptomatic and life-threatening conditions in immunocompromised individuals and in developing foetuses. Although the mechanisms that allow T. gondii to persist in host cells are poorly understood, studies in animal models have greatly improved our understanding of Toxoplasma-host cell interaction and how this interaction modulates parasite proliferation and development, host immune response and virulence of the parasite. T. gondii is capable of recruiting the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER), suggesting it may influence the host ER function. Herein, we provide an overview of T. gondii infection and the role of host ER during stressed conditions. Furthermore, we highlight studies that explore T. gondii's interaction with the host ER. We delve into how this interaction activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, we examine how T. gondii exploits these pathways to its advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obed Cudjoe
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Klintaps College of Health and Allied Sciences, DTD TDC Plot 30A, Klagon, Tema, Ghana
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Roger Afful
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Klintaps College of Health and Allied Sciences, DTD TDC Plot 30A, Klagon, Tema, Ghana
| | - Tonny Abraham Hagan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China
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20
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Chelaghma S, Ke H, Barylyuk K, Krueger T, Koreny L, Waller RF. Apical annuli are specialised sites of post-invasion secretion of dense granules in Toxoplasma. eLife 2024; 13:e94201. [PMID: 38270431 PMCID: PMC10857790 DOI: 10.7554/elife.94201] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are ubiquitous intracellular parasites of animals. These parasites use a programmed sequence of secretory events to find, invade, and then re-engineer their host cells to enable parasite growth and proliferation. The secretory organelles micronemes and rhoptries mediate the first steps of invasion. Both secrete their contents through the apical complex which provides an apical opening in the parasite's elaborate inner membrane complex (IMC) - an extensive subpellicular system of flattened membrane cisternae and proteinaceous meshwork that otherwise limits access of the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane for material exchange with the cell exterior. After invasion, a second secretion programme drives host cell remodelling and occurs from dense granules. The site(s) of dense granule exocytosis, however, has been unknown. In Toxoplasma gondii, small subapical annular structures that are embedded in the IMC have been observed, but the role or significance of these apical annuli to plasma membrane function has also been unknown. Here, we determined that integral membrane proteins of the plasma membrane occur specifically at these apical annular sites, that these proteins include SNARE proteins, and that the apical annuli are sites of vesicle fusion and exocytosis. Specifically, we show that dense granules require these structures for the secretion of their cargo proteins. When secretion is perturbed at the apical annuli, parasite growth is strongly impaired. The apical annuli, therefore, represent a second type of IMC-embedded structure to the apical complex that is specialised for protein secretion, and reveal that in Toxoplasma there is a physical separation of the processes of pre- and post-invasion secretion that mediate host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Chelaghma
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Huiling Ke
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Thomas Krueger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Ludek Koreny
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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21
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Rinkenberger N, Rosenberg A, Radke JB, Bhushan J, Tomita T, Weiss LM, Sibley LD. Susceptibility of Toxoplasma gondii to autophagy in human cells relies on multiple interacting parasite loci. mBio 2024; 15:e0259523. [PMID: 38095418 PMCID: PMC10790690 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02595-23] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Autophagy is a process used by cells to recycle organelles and macromolecules and to eliminate intracellular pathogens. Previous studies have shown that some stains of Toxoplasma gondii are resistant to autophagy-dependent growth restriction, while others are highly susceptible. Although it is known that autophagy-mediated control requires activation by interferon gamma, the basis for why parasite strains differ in their susceptibility is unknown. Our findings indicate that susceptibility involves at least five unlinked parasite genes on different chromosomes, including several secretory proteins targeted to the parasite-containing vacuole and exposed to the host cell cytosol. Our findings reveal that susceptibility to autophagy-mediated growth restriction relies on differential recognition of parasite proteins exposed at the host-pathogen interface, thus identifying a new mechanism for cell-autonomous control of intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Rinkenberger
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alex Rosenberg
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Joshua B. Radke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jaya Bhushan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tadakimi Tomita
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Louis M. Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - L. David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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22
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Henry B, Sibley LD, Rosenberg A. A Combination of Four Nuclear Targeted Effectors Protects Toxoplasma Against Interferon Gamma Driven Human Host Cell Death During Acute Infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.24.573224. [PMID: 38234811 PMCID: PMC10793417 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.24.573224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In both mice and humans, Type II interferon-gamma (IFNγ) is crucial for regulation of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection, during acute or chronic phases. To thwart this defense, T. gondii secretes protein effectors hindering the hosťs immune response. For example, T. gondii relies on the MYR translocon complex to deploy soluble dense granule effectors (GRAs) into the host cell cytosol or nucleus. Recent genome-wide loss-of-function screens in IFNγ-primed primary human fibroblasts identified MYR translocon components as crucial for parasite resistance against IFNγ driven vacuole clearance. However, these screens did not pinpoint specific MYR-dependent GRA proteins responsible for IFNγ signaling blockade, suggesting potential functional redundancy. Our study reveals that T. gondii depends on the MYR translocon complex to prevent host cell death and parasite premature egress in human cells stimulated with IFNγ postinfection, a unique phenotype observed in various human cell lines but not in murine cells. Intriguingly, inhibiting parasite egress did not prevent host cell death, indicating this mechanism is distinct from those described previously. Genome-wide loss-of-function screens uncovered TgIST, GRA16, GRA24, and GRA28 as effectors necessary for a complete block of IFNγ response. GRA24 and GRA28 directly influenced IFNγ driven transcription, GRA24's action depended on its interaction with p38 MAPK, while GRA28 disrupted histone acetyltransferase activity of CBP/p300. Given the intricate nature of the immune response to T. gondii, it appears that the parasite has evolved equally elaborate mechanisms to subvert IFNγ signaling, extending beyond direct interference with the JAK/STAT1 pathway, to encompass other signaling pathways as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Henry
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - L. David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alex Rosenberg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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23
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Wang Y, Hollingsworth LR, Sangaré LO, Paredes-Santos TC, Krishnamurthy S, Penn BH, Wu H, Saeij JPJ. Host E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH mediates Toxoplasma gondii effector GRA35-triggered NLRP1 inflammasome activation and cell-autonomous immunity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.13.571530. [PMID: 38168400 PMCID: PMC10760081 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.13.571530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that can activate the NLRP1 inflammasome leading to macrophage pyroptosis in Lewis rats, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR screen and identified the dense granule proteins GRA35, GRA42, and GRA43 as the Toxoplasma effectors mediating cell death in Lewis rat macrophages. GRA35 localizes on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, where it interacts with the host E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH. Inhibition of proteasome activity or ITCH knockout prevented pyroptosis in Toxoplasma-infected Lewis rat macrophages, consistent with the "NLRP1 functional degradation model". However, there was no evidence that ITCH directly ubiquitinates or interacts with rat NLRP1. We also found that GRA35-ITCH interaction affected Toxoplasma fitness in IFNγ-activated human fibroblasts, likely due to ITCH's role in recruiting ubiquitin and the parasite-restriction factor RNF213 to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane. These findings identify a new role of host E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH in mediating effector-triggered immunity, a critical concept that involves recognizing intracellular pathogens and initiating host innate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - L. Robert Hollingsworth
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lamba Omar Sangaré
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Tatiana C. Paredes-Santos
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Shruthi Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bennett H. Penn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeroen P. J. Saeij
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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24
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Yin D, Jiang N, Cheng C, Sang X, Feng Y, Chen R, Chen Q. Protein Lactylation and Metabolic Regulation of the Zoonotic Parasite Toxoplasma gondii. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 21:1163-1181. [PMID: 36216028 PMCID: PMC11082259 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The biology of Toxoplasma gondii, the causative pathogen of one of the most widespread parasitic diseases (toxoplasmosis), remains poorly understood. Lactate, which is derived from glucose metabolism, is not only an energy source in a variety of organisms, including T. gondii, but also a regulatory molecule that participates in gene activation and protein function. Lysine lactylation (Kla) is a type of post-translational modifications (PTMs) that has been recently associated with chromatin remodeling; however, Kla of histone and non-histone proteins has not yet been studied in T. gondii. To examine the prevalence and function of lactylation in T. gondii parasites, we mapped the lactylome of proliferating tachyzoite cells and identified 1964 Kla sites on 955 proteins in the T. gondii RH strain. Lactylated proteins were distributed in multiple subcellular compartments and were closely related to a wide variety of biological processes, including mRNA splicing, glycolysis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, RNA transport, and many signaling pathways. We also performed a chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis using a lactylation-specific antibody and found that the histones H4K12la and H3K14la were enriched in the promoter and exon regions of T. gondii associated with microtubule-based movement and cell invasion. We further confirmed the delactylase activity of histone deacetylases TgHDAC2-4, and found that treatment with anti-histone acetyltransferase (TgMYST-A) antibodies profoundly reduced protein lactylation in T. gondii. This study offers the first dataset of the global lactylation proteome and provides a basis for further dissecting the functional biology of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deqi Yin
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Chang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China.
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25
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da Silva RJ, Cabo LF, George JL, Cahoon LA, Yang L, Coyne CB, Boyle JP. Human trophoblast stem cells can be used to model placental susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii and highlight the critical importance of the trophoblast cell surface in pathogen resistance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566663. [PMID: 37986837 PMCID: PMC10659356 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is a critical barrier against viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic pathogens. For most teratogenic pathogens, the precise molecular mechanisms of placental resistance are still being unraveled. Given the importance to understand these mechanisms and challenges in replicating trophoblast- pathogen interactions using in vitro models, we tested an existing stem-cell derived model of trophoblast development for its relevance to infection with Toxoplasma gondii . We grew human trophoblast stem cells (TS CT ) under conditions leading to either syncytiotrophoblast (TS SYN ) or cytotrophoblast (TS CYT ) and infected them with T. gondii . We evaluated T. gondii proliferation and invasion, cell ultrastructure, as well as for transcriptome changes after infection. TS SYNs cells showed similar ultrastructure compared to primary cells and villous explants when analyzed by TEM and SEM, a resistance to T. gondii adhesion could be visualized on the SEM level. Furthermore, TS SYNs were highly refractory to parasite adhesion and replication, while TS CYT were not. RNA-seq data on mock-treated and infected cells identified differences between cell types as well as how they responded to T. gondii infection. We also evaluated if TS SC -derived SYNs and CYTs had distinct resistance profiles to another vertically transmitted facultative intracellular pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes . We demonstrate that TS SYNs are highly resistant to L. monocytogenes , while TS CYTs are not. Like T. gondii , TS SYN resistance to L. monocytogenes was at the level of bacterial adhesion. Altogether, our data indicate that stem-cell derived trophoblasts recapitulate resistance profiles of primary cells to T. gondii and highlight the critical importance of the placental surface in cell-autonomous resistance to teratogens.
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Shi Y, Li J, Yang W, Chen J. Protective immunity induced by DNA vaccine containing Tg GRA35, Tg GRA42, and Tg GRA43 against Toxoplasma gondii infection in Kunming mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1236130. [PMID: 38029261 PMCID: PMC10644269 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1236130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii can cause congenital infection and abortion in humans and warm-blooded animals. T. gondii dense granule proteins, GRA35, GRA42, and GRA43, play a critical role in the establishment of chronic infection. However, their potential to induce protective immunity against T. gondii infection remains unexplored. Objective This study aimed to test the efficacy of a DNA vaccine encompassing GRA35, GRA42, and GRA43 in inducing protective immunity against the highly virulent T. gondii RH strain (type I) and the brain cyst-forming PRU strain (type II). Methods The eukaryotic plasmids pVAX-GRA35, pVAX-GRA42, and pVAX-GRA43 were constructed and formulated into two- or three-gene cocktail DNA vaccines. The indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to analyze their expression and immunogenicity. Mice were immunized with a single-gene, two-genes, or multicomponent eukaryotic plasmid, intramuscularly. We assessed antibody levels, cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) responses, cytokines, and lymphocyte surface markers by using flow cytometry. Additionally, mouse survival and cyst numbers in the brain of mice challenged 1 to 2 months postvaccination were determined. Results Specific humoral and cellular immune responses were elicited in mice immunized with single-, two-, or three-gene cocktail DNA vaccine, as indicated by significant increases in serum antibody concentrations of total IgG, IgG2a/IgG1 ratio, cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10), lymphocyte proliferation, lymphocyte populations (CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes), CTL activities, and survival, as well as decreased brain cysts, in comparison with control mice. Moreover, compared with pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA42, pVAX-GRA42 + pVAX-GRA43, or pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA43, multicomponent DNA vaccine with three genes (pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA42 + pVAX-GRA43) induced the higher humoral and cellular immune responses, including serum antibody concentrations, cytokine levels, lymphocyte proliferation, lymphocyte populations, CTL activities and survival, resulting in prolonged survival time and reduced brain cyst loads. Furthermore, mice immunized with pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA42, pVAX-GRA42 + pVAX-GRA43, or pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA43 showed greater Th1 immune responses and protective efficacy than the single-gene-vaccinated groups. Conclusion These results demonstrate that TgGRA35, TgGRA42, or TgGRA43 are vaccine candidates against T. gondii infection, and the three-gene DNA vaccine cocktail conferred the strongest protection against T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youbo Shi
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jianbing Li
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Weili Yang
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jia Chen
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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Thind AC, Mota CM, Gonçalves APN, Sha J, Wohlschlegel JA, Mineo TWP, Bradley PJ. The Toxoplasma gondii effector GRA83 modulates the host's innate immune response to regulate parasite infection. mSphere 2023; 8:e0026323. [PMID: 37768053 PMCID: PMC10597413 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00263-23] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii's propensity to infect its host and cause disease is highly dependent on its ability to modulate host cell functions. One of the strategies the parasite uses to accomplish this is via the export of effector proteins from the secretory dense granules. Dense granule (GRA) proteins are known to play roles in nutrient acquisition, host cell cycle manipulation, and immune regulation. Here, we characterize a novel dense granule protein named GRA83, which localizes to the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Disruption of GRA83 results in increased virulence, weight loss, and parasitemia during the acute infection, as well as a marked increase in the cyst burden during the chronic infection. This increased parasitemia was associated with an accumulation of inflammatory infiltrates in tissues in both acute and chronic infections. Murine macrophages infected with ∆gra83 tachyzoites produced less interleukin-12 (IL-12) in vitro, which was confirmed with reduced IL-12 and interferon-gamma in vivo. This dysregulation of cytokines correlates with reduced nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) complex. While GRA15 similarly regulates NF-κB, infection with ∆gra83/∆gra15 parasites did not further reduce p65 translocation to the host cell nucleus, suggesting these GRAs function in converging pathways. We also used proximity labeling experiments to reveal candidate GRA83 interacting T. gondii-derived partners. Taken together, this work reveals a novel effector that stimulates the innate immune response, enabling the host to limit the parasite burden. Importance Toxoplasma gondii poses a significant public health concern as it is recognized as one of the leading foodborne pathogens in the United States. Infection with the parasite can cause congenital defects in neonates, life-threatening complications in immunosuppressed patients, and ocular disease. Specialized secretory organelles, including the dense granules, play an important role in the parasite's ability to efficiently invade and regulate components of the host's infection response machinery to limit parasite clearance and establish an acute infection. Toxoplasma's ability to avoid early clearance, while also successfully infecting the host long enough to establish a persistent chronic infection, is crucial in allowing for its transmission to a new host. While multiple GRAs directly modulate host signaling pathways, they do so in various ways highlighting the parasite's diverse arsenal of effectors that govern infection. Understanding how parasite-derived effectors harness host functions to evade defenses yet ensure a robust infection is important for understanding the complexity of the pathogen's tightly regulated infection. In this study, we characterize a novel secreted protein named GRA83 that stimulates the host cell's response to limit infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amara C. Thind
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Caroline M. Mota
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology “Dr. Mário Endsfeldz Camargo,” Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula N. Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology “Dr. Mário Endsfeldz Camargo,” Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - James A. Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tiago W. P. Mineo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology “Dr. Mário Endsfeldz Camargo,” Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Peter J. Bradley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Butterworth S, Kordova K, Chandrasekaran S, Thomas KK, Torelli F, Lockyer EJ, Edwards A, Goldstone R, Koshy AA, Treeck M. High-throughput identification of Toxoplasma gondii effector proteins that target host cell transcription. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1748-1762.e8. [PMID: 37827122 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens and other endosymbionts reprogram host cell transcription to suppress immune responses and recalibrate biosynthetic pathways. This reprogramming is critical in determining the outcome of infection or colonization. We combine pooled CRISPR knockout screening with dual host-microbe single-cell RNA sequencing, a method we term dual perturb-seq, to identify the molecular mediators of these transcriptional interactions. Applying dual perturb-seq to the intracellular pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, we are able to identify previously uncharacterized effector proteins and directly infer their function from the transcriptomic data. We show that TgGRA59 contributes to the export of other effector proteins from the parasite into the host cell and identify an effector, TgSOS1, that is necessary for sustained host STAT6 signaling and thereby contributes to parasite immune evasion and persistence. Together, this work demonstrates a tool that can be broadly adapted to interrogate host-microbe transcriptional interactions and reveal mechanisms of infection and immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Butterworth
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Kristina Kordova
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | | | - Francesca Torelli
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Eloise J Lockyer
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Amelia Edwards
- Advanced Sequencing Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Robert Goldstone
- Advanced Sequencing Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Anita A Koshy
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA; Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Cell Biology of Host-Pathogen Interaction Laboratory, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras 2780-156, Portugal.
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Diez AF, Leroux LP, Chagneau S, Plouffe A, Gold M, Chaparro V, Jaramillo M. Toxoplasma gondii inhibits the expression of autophagy-related genes through AKT-dependent inactivation of the transcription factor FOXO3a. mBio 2023; 14:e0079523. [PMID: 37387601 PMCID: PMC10470550 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00795-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii induces host AKT activation to prevent autophagy-mediated clearance; however, the molecular underpinnings are not fully understood. Autophagy can be negatively regulated through AKT-sensitive phosphorylation and nuclear export of the transcription factor Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a). Using a combination of pharmacological and genetic approaches, herein we investigated whether T. gondii hinders host autophagy through AKT-dependent inactivation of FOXO3a. We found that infection by type I and II strains of T. gondii promotes gradual and sustained AKT-dependent phosphorylation of FOXO3a at residues S253 and T32 in human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) and murine 3T3 fibroblasts. Mechanistically, AKT-sensitive phosphorylation of FOXO3a by T. gondii required live infection and the activity of PI3K but was independent of the plasma membrane receptor EGFR and the kinase PKCα. Phosphorylation of FOXO3a at AKT-sensitive residues was paralleled by its nuclear exclusion in T. gondii-infected HFF. Importantly, the parasite was unable to drive cytoplasmic localization of FOXO3a upon pharmacological blockade of AKT or overexpression of an AKT-insensitive mutant form of FOXO3a. Transcription of a subset of bona fide autophagy-related targets of FOXO3a was reduced during T. gondii infection in an AKT-dependent fashion. However, parasite-directed repression of autophagy-related genes was AKT-resistant in cells deficient in FOXO3a. Consistent with this, T. gondii failed to inhibit the recruitment of acidic organelles and LC3, an autophagy marker, to the parasitophorous vacuole upon chemically or genetically induced nuclear retention of FOXO3a. In all, we provide evidence that T. gondii suppresses FOXO3a-regulated transcriptional programs to prevent autophagy-mediated killing. IMPORTANCE The parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, an opportunistic infection commonly transmitted by ingestion of contaminated food or water. To date, no effective vaccines in humans have been developed and no promising drugs are available to treat chronic infection or prevent congenital infection. T. gondii targets numerous host cell processes to establish a favorable replicative niche. Of note, T. gondii activates the host AKT signaling pathway to prevent autophagy-mediated killing. Herein, we report that T. gondii inhibits FOXO3a, a transcription factor that regulates the expression of autophagy-related genes, through AKT-dependent phosphorylation. The parasite's ability to block the recruitment of the autophagy machinery to the parasitophorous vacuole is impeded upon pharmacological inhibition of AKT or overexpression of an AKT-insensitive form of FOXO3a. Thus, our study provides greater granularity in the role of FOXO3a during infection and reinforces the potential of targeting autophagy as a therapeutic strategy against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Felipe Diez
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)—Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Louis-Philippe Leroux
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)—Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Sophie Chagneau
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)—Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexandra Plouffe
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)—Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Mackenzie Gold
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)—Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Visnu Chaparro
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)—Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB), Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Maritza Jaramillo
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)—Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie (AFSB), Laval, Québec, Canada
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Ferrel A, Romano J, Panas MW, Coppens I, Boothroyd JC. Host MOSPD2 enrichment at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane varies between Toxoplasma strains and involves complex interactions. mSphere 2023; 8:e0067022. [PMID: 37341482 PMCID: PMC10449529 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00670-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular parasite. Infection of a cell produces a unique niche for the parasite named the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) initially composed of host plasma membrane invaginated during invasion. The PV and its membrane (parasitophorous vacuole membrane [PVM]) are subsequently decorated with a variety of parasite proteins allowing the parasite to optimally grow in addition to manipulate host processes. Recently, we reported a proximity-labeling screen at the PVM-host interface and identified host endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident motile sperm domain-containing protein 2 (MOSPD2) as being enriched at this location. Here we extend these findings in several important respects. First, we show that the extent and pattern of host MOSPD2 association with the PVM differ dramatically in cells infected with different strains of Toxoplasma. Second, in cells infected with Type I RH strain, the MOSPD2 staining is mutually exclusive with regions of the PVM that associate with mitochondria. Third, immunoprecipitation and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with epitope-tagged MOSPD2-expressing host cells reveal strong enrichment of several PVM-localized parasite proteins, although none appear to play an essential role in MOSPD2 association. Fourth, most MOSPD2 associating with the PVM is newly translated after infection of the cell and requires the major functional domains of MOSPD2, identified as the CRAL/TRIO domain and tail anchor, although these domains were not sufficient for PVM association. Lastly, ablation of MOSPD2 results in, at most, a modest impact on Toxoplasma growth in vitro. Collectively, these studies provide new insight into the molecular interactions involving MOSPD2 at the dynamic interface between the PVM and the host cytosol. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular pathogen that lives within a membranous vacuole inside of its host cell. This vacuole is decorated by a variety of parasite proteins that allow it to defend against host attack, acquire nutrients, and interact with the host cell. Recent work identified and validated host proteins enriched at this host-pathogen interface. Here, we follow up on one candidate named MOSPD2 shown to be enriched at the vacuolar membrane and describe it as having a dynamic interaction at this location depending on a variety of factors. Some of these include the presence of host mitochondria, intrinsic domains of the host protein, and whether translation is active. Importantly, we show that MOSPD2 enrichment at the vacuole membrane differs between strains indicating active involvement of the parasite with this phenotype. Altogether, these results shed light on the mechanism and role of protein associations in the host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Ferrel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Julia Romano
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael W. Panas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John C. Boothroyd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Wang Y. mSphere of Influence: Systemic decoding gene function in Toxoplasma gondii pathogenesis-CRISPR screens and beyond. mSphere 2023; 8:e0027123. [PMID: 37382434 PMCID: PMC10449525 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00271-23] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Yifan Wang works in the field of molecular parasitology with a focus on host-pathogen interactions. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how papers entitled "A genome-wide CRISPR screen in Toxoplasma identifies essential apicomplexan genes" by S. M. Sidik, D. Huet, S. M. Ganesan, M.-H. Huynh, et al. (Cell 166:1423.e12-1435.e12, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2016.08.019) and "Mapping host-microbe transcriptional interactions by dual Perturb-seq" by S. Butterworth, K. Kordova, S. Chandrasekaran, K. K. Thomas, et al. (bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.21.537779) made an impact on his research and changed the way he thinks how functional genomics and high-throughput screens provide novel insights into pathogen pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Haskins BE, Gullicksrud JA, Wallbank BA, Dumaine JE, Guérin A, Cohn IS, O'Dea KM, Pardy RD, Merolle MI, Shallberg LA, Hunter EN, Byerly JH, Smith EJ, Buenconsejo GY, McLeod BI, Christian DA, Striepen B, Hunter CA. Dendritic cell-mediated responses to secreted Cryptosporidium effectors are required for parasite-specific CD8 + T cell responses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.16.553566. [PMID: 37645924 PMCID: PMC10462095 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.16.553566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium causes debilitating diarrheal disease in patients with primary and acquired defects in T cell function. However, it has been a challenge to understand how this infection generates T cell responses and how they mediate parasite control. Here, Cryptosporidium was engineered to express a parasite effector protein (MEDLE-2) that contains the MHC-I restricted SIINFEKL epitope which is recognized by TCR transgenic OT-I CD8 + T cells. These modified parasites induced expansion of endogenous SIINFEKL-specific and OT-I CD8 + T cells that were a source of IFN-γ that could restrict growth of Cryptosporidium . This T cell response was dependent on the translocation of the effector and similar results were observed with another secreted parasite effector (ROP1). Although infection and these translocated effector proteins are restricted to intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), type I dendritic cells (cDC1) were required to generate CD8 + T cell responses to these model antigens. These data sets highlight Cryptosporidium effectors as targets of the immune system and suggest that crosstalk between enterocytes and cDC1s is crucial for CD8 + T cell responses to Cryptosporidium .
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Ribeiro E. Silva A, Diallo MA, Sausset A, Robert T, Bach S, Bussière FI, Laurent F, Lacroix-Lamandé S, Silvestre A. Overexpression of Eimeria tenella Rhoptry Kinase 2 Induces Early Production of Schizonts. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0013723. [PMID: 37260371 PMCID: PMC10434272 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00137-23] [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: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Eimeria tenella is an obligate intracellular parasite responsible for avian coccidiosis. Like other apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, cell invasion and intracellular development rely on apical organelle content discharge, named micronemes and rhoptries. Some rhoptry (ROP) kinases (ROPK) are key virulence factors in T. gondii. To date, among the 28 ropk genes carried by E. tenella, only two to four were confirmed by proteomic analysis or immunostaining to be expressed at the sporozoite stage. We have previously shown that EtROP1 is implicated in the inhibition of host cell apoptosis by interacting with the cellular p53. This work functionally described the second ROP kinase expressed at the sporozoite stage in E. tenella. EtROP2 is an active kinase that phosphorylates cell substrates of approximately 50 kDa. Its overexpression leads to the shortening of the prepatent period and to the early development of first-generation schizonts. Conduction of RNA sequencing analysis and reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) on the host cell allowed us to identify the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the transcription factor cFos to be upregulated by EtROP2. We also showed by immunofluorescence assay that the active kinase EtROP2 is implicated in the p38 MAPK pathway activation. We established here that EtROP2 activates the p38 MAPK pathway through a direct or indirect phosphorylation, leading to the overexpression of the master transcription factor cFos known to be implicated in E. tenella development. IMPORTANCE Rhoptries are specialized secretory organelles found in zoite stages of apicomplexan parasites. In addition to well-conserved rhoptry neck proteins, their protein consists mostly of kinase proteins, highly divergent from eukaryotic kinases. Some of those kinases are described as major virulence factors in Toxoplasma gondii, secreted into the host cell to hijack signaling pathways. Most of those kinases remain to be characterized in Eimeria tenella. Deciphering their cellular function is a prerequisite to supporting their relevance as a druggable target in development of new means of Eimeria tenella control. Secreted divergent kinases that interact with host cell partners to modulate pathways are good candidates, as they coevolve with their host targets to ensure their function within the host and are less prone to mutations that would lead to drug resistance. The absence of any orthologous kinase in host cells makes these parasite kinases a promising drug target candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alix Sausset
- ISP, INRAE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Thomas Robert
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models Laboratory (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR 2424, Plateforme de Criblage KISSf (Kinase Inhibitor Specialized Screening Facility), Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Stéphane Bach
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models Laboratory (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR 2424, Plateforme de Criblage KISSf (Kinase Inhibitor Specialized Screening Facility), Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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de Campos VS, Magalhães CF, da Rosa BG, dos Santos CM, Fragel-Madeira L, Figueiredo DP, Calaza KC, Adesse D. Maternal Toxoplasma gondii infection affects proliferation, differentiation and cell cycle regulation of retinal neural progenitor cells in mouse embryo. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1211446. [PMID: 37545879 PMCID: PMC10400775 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1211446] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis affects one third of the world population and has the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii as etiological agent. Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) can cause severe damage to the fetus, including miscarriages, intracranial calcification, hydrocephalus and retinochoroiditis. Severity of CT depends on the gestational period in which infection occurs, and alterations at the cellular level during retinal development have been reported. In this study, we proposed a mouse CT model to investigate the impact of infection on retinal development. Methods Pregnant females of pigmented C57BL/6 strain mice were infected intragastrically with two T. gondii cysts (ME49 strain) at embryonic day 10 (E10), and the offspring were analyzed at E18. Results Infected embryos had significantly smaller body sizes and weights than the PBS-treated controls, indicating that embryonic development was affected. In the retina, a significant increase in the number of Ki-67-positive cells (marker of proliferating cells) was found in the apical region of the NBL of infected mice compared to the control. Supporting this, cell cycle proteins Cyclin D3, Cdk6 and pChK2 were significantly altered in infected retinas. Interestingly, the immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant increase in the population of β-III-tubulin-positive cells, one of the earliest markers of neuronal differentiation. Conclusions Our data suggests that CT affects cell cycle progression in retinal progenitor cells, possibly inducing the arrest of these cells at G2/M phase. Such alterations could influence the differentiation, anticipating/increasing neuronal maturation, and therefore leading to abnormal retinal formation. Our model mimics important events observed in ocular CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Souza de Campos
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Feitosa Magalhães
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Barbara Gomes da Rosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Lucianne Fragel-Madeira
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Regeneração Neural, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Danniel Pereira Figueiredo
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Karin C. Calaza
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Daniel Adesse
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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Horcajo P, Coronado M, Pastor-Fernández I, Collantes-Fernández E, Rico-San Román L, Reyes-Palomares A, Ortega-Mora LM. Whole-transcriptome analysis reveals virulence-specific pathogen-host interactions at the placenta in bovine neosporosis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1198609. [PMID: 37520552 PMCID: PMC10380943 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1198609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on bovine neosporosis has achieved relevant milestones, but the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of foetal death or protection against foetal death remain unclear. In a recent study, placentas from heifers challenged with the high-virulence isolate Nc-Spain7 exhibited focal necrosis and inflammatory infiltrates as soon as 10 days post-infection (dpi), although parasite detection was minimal. These lesions were more frequent at 20 dpi, coinciding with higher rates of parasite detection and the occurrence of foetal death in some animals. In contrast, such lesions were not observed in placentas from animals infected with the low-virulence isolate Nc-Spain1H, where the parasite was detected only in placenta from one animal at 20 dpi. This work aimed to study which mechanisms are triggered in the placentas (caruncles and cotyledons) of these pregnant heifers at early stages of infection (10 and 20 dpi) through whole-transcriptome analysis. In caruncles, infection with the high-virulence isolate provoked a strong proinflammatory response at 10 dpi. This effect was not observed in heifers infected with the low-virulence isolate, where IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signalling and TNF-alpha signalling via NF-κB pathways were down-regulated. Interestingly, the expression of E2F target genes, related to restraining the inflammatory response, was higher in these animals. At 20 dpi, more pronounced proinflammatory gene signatures were detectable in heifers infected with the high-virulence isolate, being more intense in heifers carrying dead fetuses. However, the low-virulence isolate continued without activating the proinflammatory response. In cotyledons, the response to infection with the high-virulence isolate was similar to that observed in caruncles; however, the low-virulence isolate induced mild proinflammatory signals at 20 dpi. Finally, a deconvolutional analysis of gene signatures from both placentome tissues revealed a markedly higher fraction of activated natural killers, M1 macrophages and CD8+ T cells for the high-virulence isolate. Therefore, our transcriptomic analysis supports the hypothesis that an intense immune response probably triggered by parasite multiplication could be a key contributor to abortion. Further studies are required to determine the parasite effectors that govern the distinct interactions of high- and low-virulence isolates with the host, which could help elucidate the molecular processes underlying the pathogenesis of neosporosis in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Horcajo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Coronado
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Iván Pastor-Fernández
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Collantes-Fernández
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Rico-San Román
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Armando Reyes-Palomares
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Sang X, Li X, Chen R, Feng Y, He T, Zhang X, El-Ashram S, Al-Olayan E, Yang N. Co-Immunization with DNA Vaccines Expressing SABP1 and SAG1 Proteins Effectively Enhanced Mice Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii Acute Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1190. [PMID: 37515006 PMCID: PMC10384583 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) has many intermediate hosts, obligately invades nucleated cells, and seriously threatens human and animal health due to a lack of effective drugs and vaccines. Sialic acid-binding protein 1 (SABP1) is a novel invasion-related protein that, like surface antigen 1 (SAG1), is found on the plasma membrane of T. gondii. To investigate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of DNA vaccines expressing SABP1 and SAG1 proteins against T. gondii acute infection, the recombinant plasmids pVAX1-SABP1 and pVAX1-SAG1 were produced and administered intramuscularly in Balb/c mice. Serum antibody levels and subtypes, lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokines were used to assess immunized mice's humoral and cellular immune responses. Furthermore, the ability of DNA vaccines to protect mice against T. gondii RH tachyzoites was tested. Immunized mice exhibited substantially higher IgG levels, with IgG2a titers higher than IgG1. When the immune group mice's splenocytes were stimulated with T. gondii lysate antigen, Th1-type cytokines (IL-12p70, IFN-γ, and IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4) increased significantly. The combined DNA vaccine significantly increased the immunized mouse survival compared to the control group, with an average death time extended by 4.33 ± 0.6 days (p < 0.0001). These findings show that DNA vaccines based on the SABP1 and SAG1 genes induced robust humoral and cellular immunity in mice, effectively protecting against acute toxoplasmosis and potentially serving as a viable option for vaccination to prevent T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Shenyang Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Shenyang Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Shenyang Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Shenyang Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ting He
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Shenyang Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiaohan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Shenyang Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Saeed El-Ashram
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Ebtsam Al-Olayan
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Shenyang Agricultural University, Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
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Li J, Li N, Roellig DM, Zhao W, Guo Y, Feng Y, Xiao L. High subtelomeric GC content in the genome of a zoonotic Cryptosporidium species. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen001052. [PMID: 37399068 PMCID: PMC10438818 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001052] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium canis is a zoonotic species causing cryptosporidiosis in humans in addition to its natural hosts dogs and other fur animals. To understand the genetic basis for host adaptation, we sequenced the genomes of C. canis from dogs, minks, and foxes and conducted a comparative genomics analysis. While the genomes of C. canis have similar gene contents and organisations, they (~41.0 %) and C. felis (39.6 %) have GC content much higher than other Cryptosporidium spp. (24.3-32.9 %) sequenced to date. The high GC content is mostly restricted to subtelomeric regions of the eight chromosomes. Most of these GC-balanced genes encode Cryptosporidium-specific proteins that have intrinsically disordered regions and are involved in host-parasite interactions. Natural selection appears to play a more important role in the evolution of codon usage in GC-balanced C. canis, and most of the GC-balanced genes have undergone positive selection. While the identity in whole genome sequences between the mink- and dog-derived isolates is 99.9 % (9365 SNVs), it is only 96.0 % (362 894 SNVs) between them and the fox-derived isolate. In agreement with this, the fox-derived isolate possesses more subtelomeric genes encoding invasion-related protein families. Therefore, the change in subtelomeric GC content appears to be responsible for the more GC-balanced C. canis genomes, and the fox-derived isolate could represent a new Cryptosporidium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Na Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Dawn M. Roellig
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Wentao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Yaqiong Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
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Lockyer EJ, Torelli F, Butterworth S, Song OR, Howell S, Weston A, East P, Treeck M. A heterotrimeric complex of Toxoplasma proteins promotes parasite survival in interferon gamma-stimulated human cells. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002202. [PMID: 37459303 PMCID: PMC10373997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii secretes protein effectors to subvert the human immune system sufficiently to establish a chronic infection. Relative to murine infections, little is known about which parasite effectors disarm human immune responses. Here, we used targeted CRISPR screening to identify secreted protein effectors required for parasite survival in IFNγ-activated human cells. Independent screens were carried out using 2 Toxoplasma strains that differ in virulence in mice, leading to the identification of effectors required for survival in IFNγ-activated human cells. We identify the secreted protein GRA57 and 2 other proteins, GRA70 and GRA71, that together form a complex which enhances the ability of parasites to persist in IFNγ-activated human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs). Components of the protein machinery required for export of Toxoplasma proteins into the host cell were also found to be important for parasite resistance to IFNγ in human cells, but these export components function independently of the identified protein complex. Host-mediated ubiquitination of the parasite vacuole has previously been associated with increased parasite clearance from human cells, but we find that vacuoles from GRA57, GRA70, and GRA71 knockout strains are surprisingly less ubiquitinated by the host cell. We hypothesise that this is likely a secondary consequence of deletion of the complex, unlinked to the IFNγ resistance mediated by these effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise J Lockyer
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Torelli
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Butterworth
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ok-Ryul Song
- High-Throughput Screening Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Howell
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Weston
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip East
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cell Biology of Host-Pathogen Interaction Laboratory, Instituto Gulbenkian Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
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Tachibana Y, Hashizaki E, Sasai M, Yamamoto M. Host genetics highlights IFN-γ-dependent Toxoplasma genes encoding secreted and non-secreted virulence factors in in vivo CRISPR screens. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112592. [PMID: 37269286 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Secreted virulence factors of Toxoplasma to survive in immune-competent hosts have been extensively explored by classical genetics and in vivo CRISPR screen methods, whereas their requirements in immune-deficient hosts are incompletely understood. Those of non-secreted virulence factors are further enigmatic. Here we develop an in vivo CRISPR screen system to enrich not only secreted but also non-secreted virulence factors in virulent Toxoplasma-infected C57BL/6 mice. Notably, combined usage of immune-deficient Ifngr1-/- mice highlights genes encoding various non-secreted proteins as well as well-known effectors such as ROP5, ROP18, GRA12, and GRA45 as interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-dependent virulence genes. The screen results suggest a role of GRA72 for normal GRA17/GRA23 localization and the IFN-γ-dependent role of UFMylation-related genes. Collectively, our study demonstrates that host genetics can complement in vivo CRISPR screens to highlight genes encoding IFN-γ-dependent secreted and non-secreted virulence factors in Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Tachibana
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Emi Hashizaki
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Miwa Sasai
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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Thind AC, Mota CM, Gonçalves APN, Sha J, Wohlschlegel JA, Mineo TWP, Bradley PJ. The Toxoplasma gondii effector GRA83 modulates the host's innate immune response to regulate parasite infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.31.543158. [PMID: 37398161 PMCID: PMC10312501 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.31.543158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii 's propensity to infect its host and cause disease is highly dependent on its ability to modulate host cell functions. One of the strategies the parasite uses to accomplish this is via the export of effector proteins from the secretory dense granules. Dense granule (GRA) proteins are known to play roles in nutrient acquisition, host cell cycle manipulation, and immune regulation. Here, we characterize a novel dense granule protein named GRA83, which localizes to the parasitophorous vacuole in tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Disruption of GRA83 results in increased virulence, weight loss, and parasitemia during the acute infection, as well as a marked increase in the cyst burden during the chronic infection. This increased parasitemia was associated with an accumulation of inflammatory infiltrates in tissues in both the acute and chronic infection. Murine macrophages infected with Δ gra83 tachyzoites produced less interleukin-12 (IL-12) in vitro , which was confirmed with reduced IL-12 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in vivo . This dysregulation of cytokines correlates with reduced nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of the NF-κB complex. While GRA15 similarly regulates NF-κB, infection with Δ gra83/ Δ gra15 parasites did not further reduce p65 translocation to the host cell nucleus, suggesting these GRAs function in converging pathways. We also used proximity labelling experiments to reveal candidate GRA83 interacting T. gondii derived partners. Taken together, this work reveals a novel effector that stimulates the innate immune response, enabling the host to limit parasite burden. Importance Toxoplasma gondii poses a significant public health concern as it is recognized as one of the leading foodborne pathogens in the United States. Infection with the parasite can cause congenital defects in neonates, life-threatening complications in immunosuppressed patients, and ocular disease. Specialized secretory organelles, including the dense granules, play an important role in the parasite's ability to efficiently invade and regulate components of the host's infection response machinery to limit parasite clearance and establish an acute infection. Toxoplasma' s ability to avoid early clearance, while also successfully infecting the host long enough to establish a persistent chronic infection, is crucial in allowing for its transmission to a new host. While multiple GRAs directly modulate host signaling pathways, they do so in various ways highlighting the parasite's diverse arsenal of effectors that govern infection. Understanding how parasite-derived effectors harness host functions to evade defenses yet ensure a robust infection are important for understanding the complexity of the pathogen's tightly regulated infection. In this study, we characterize a novel secreted protein named GRA83 that stimulates the host cell's response to limit infection.
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Dubois DJ, Chehade S, Marq JB, Venugopal K, Maco B, Puig ATI, Soldati-Favre D, Marion S. Toxoplasma gondii HOOK-FTS-HIP Complex is Critical for Secretory Organelle Discharge during Motility, Invasion, and Egress. mBio 2023:e0045823. [PMID: 37093045 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00458-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the Apicomplexa phylum possess specialized secretory organelles that discharge, apically and in a timely regulated manner, key factors implicated in parasite motility, host cell invasion, egress and subversion of host cellular functions. The mechanisms regulating trafficking and apical docking of these secretory organelles are only partially elucidated. Here, we characterized two conserved endosomal trafficking regulators known to promote vesicle transport and/or fusion, HOOK and Fused Toes (FTS), in the context of organelle discharge in Toxoplasma gondii. TgHOOK and TgFTS form a complex with a coccidian-specific partner, named HOOK interacting partner (HIP). TgHOOK displays an apically enriched vesicular pattern and concentrates at the parasite apical tip where it colocalizes with TgFTS and TgHIP. Functional investigations revealed that TgHOOK is dispensable but fitness conferring. The protein regulates the apical positioning and secretion of micronemes and contributes to egress, motility, host cell attachment, and invasion. Conditional depletion of TgFTS or TgHIP impacted on the same processes but led to more severe phenotypes. This study provides evidence of endosomal trafficking regulators involved in the apical exocytosis of micronemes and possibly as a consequence or directly on the discharge of the rhoptries. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii affects between 30 and 80% of the human population, poses a life-threatening risk to immunocompromised individuals, and is a cause of abortion and birth defects following congenital transmission. T. gondii belongs to the phylum of Apicomplexa characterized by a set of unique apical secretory organelles called the micronemes and rhoptries. Upon host cell recognition, this obligatory intracellular parasite secretes specific effectors contained in micronemes and rhoptries to promote parasite invasion of host cells and subsequent persistence. Here, we identified novel T. gondii endosomal trafficking regulators and demonstrated that they regulate microneme organelle apical positioning and exocytosis, thereby strongly contributing to host cell invasion and parasite virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Dubois
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylia Chehade
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Marq
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kannan Venugopal
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Albert Tell I Puig
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Marion
- University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
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Guérin A, Strelau KM, Barylyuk K, Wallbank BA, Berry L, Crook OM, Lilley KS, Waller RF, Striepen B. Cryptosporidium uses multiple distinct secretory organelles to interact with and modify its host cell. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:650-664.e6. [PMID: 36958336 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of diarrheal disease in children and an important contributor to early childhood mortality. The parasite invades and extensively remodels intestinal epithelial cells, building an elaborate interface structure. How this occurs at the molecular level and the contributing parasite factors are largely unknown. Here, we generated a whole-cell spatial proteome of the Cryptosporidium sporozoite and used genetic and cell biological experimentation to discover the Cryptosporidium-secreted effector proteome. These findings reveal multiple organelles, including an original secretory organelle, and generate numerous compartment markers by tagging native gene loci. We show that secreted proteins are delivered to the parasite-host interface, where they assemble into different structures including a ring that anchors the parasite into its unique epicellular niche. Cryptosporidium thus uses a complex set of secretion systems during and following invasion that act in concert to subjugate its host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Guérin
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Katherine M Strelau
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Bethan A Wallbank
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Laurence Berry
- LPHI, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier 34095, France
| | - Oliver M Crook
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Kathryn S Lilley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Munera López J, Alonso AM, Figueras MJ, Saldarriaga Cartagena AM, Hortua Triana MA, Diambra L, Vanagas L, Deng B, Moreno SNJ, Angel SO. Analysis of the Interactome of the Toxoplasma gondii Tgj1 HSP40 Chaperone. Proteomes 2023; 11:9. [PMID: 36976888 PMCID: PMC10056330 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes11010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan that causes toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. Central to its dissemination and pathogenicity is the ability to rapidly divide in the tachyzoite stage and infect any type of nucleated cell. Adaptation to different cell contexts requires high plasticity in which heat shock proteins (Hsps) could play a fundamental role. Tgj1 is a type I Hsp40 of T. gondii, an ortholog of the DNAJA1 group, which is essential during the tachyzoite lytic cycle. Tgj1 consists of a J-domain, ZFD, and DNAJ_C domains with a CRQQ C-terminal motif, which is usually prone to lipidation. Tgj1 presented a mostly cytosolic subcellular localization overlapping partially with endoplasmic reticulum. Protein-protein Interaction (PPI) analysis showed that Tgj1 could be implicated in various biological pathways, mainly translation, protein folding, energy metabolism, membrane transport and protein translocation, invasion/pathogenesis, cell signaling, chromatin and transcription regulation, and cell redox homeostasis among others. The combination of Tgj1 and Hsp90 PPIs retrieved only 70 interactors linked to the Tgj1-Hsp90 axis, suggesting that Tgj1 would present specific functions in addition to those of the Hsp70/Hsp90 cycle, standing out invasion/pathogenesis, cell shape motility, and energy pathway. Within the Hsp70/Hsp90 cycle, translation-associated pathways, cell redox homeostasis, and protein folding were highly enriched in the Tgj1-Hsp90 axis. In conclusion, Tgj1 would interact with a wide range of proteins from different biological pathways, which could suggest a relevant role in them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Munera López
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Andrés Mariano Alonso
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Maria Julia Figueras
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Ana María Saldarriaga Cartagena
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Miryam A. Hortua Triana
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Luis Diambra
- Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Laura Vanagas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Bin Deng
- Department of Biology and VBRN, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Silvia N. J. Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Sergio Oscar Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
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Toxoplasma IWS1 Determines Fitness in Interferon-γ-Activated Host Cells and Mice by Indirectly Regulating ROP18 mRNA Expression. mBio 2023; 14:e0325622. [PMID: 36715543 PMCID: PMC9973038 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03256-22] [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] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii secretes various virulence effector molecules into host cells to disrupt host interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-dependent immunity. Among these effectors, ROP18 directly phosphorylates and inactivates IFN-inducible GTPases, such as immunity-related GTPases (IRGs) and guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs), leading to the subversion of IFN-inducible GTPase-induced cell-autonomous immunity. The modes of action of ROP18 have been studied extensively; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which ROP18 is produced in the parasite itself. Here, we report the role of T. gondii transcription factor IWS1 in ROP18 mRNA expression in the parasite. Compared with wild-type virulent type I T. gondii, IWS1-deficient parasites showed dramatically increased loading of IRGs and GBPs onto the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). Moreover, IWS1-deficient parasites displayed decreased virulence in wild-type mice but retained normal virulence in mice lacking the IFN-γ receptor. Furthermore, IWS1-deficient parasites showed severely decreased ROP18 mRNA expression; however, tagged IWS1 did not directly bind with genomic regions of the ROP18 locus. Ectopic expression of ROP18 in IWS1-deficient parasites restored the decreased loading of effectors onto the PVM and in vivo virulence in wild-type mice. Taken together, these data demonstrate that T. gondii IWS1 indirectly regulates ROP18 mRNA expression to determine fitness in IFN-γ-activated host cells and mice. IMPORTANCE The parasite Toxoplasma gondii has a counterdefense system against interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-dependent host immunity which relies on the secretion of parasite effector proteins. ROP18 is one of the effector, which is released into host cells to inactivate IFN-γ-dependent anti-Toxoplasma host proteins. The mechanism by which Toxoplasma ROP18 subverts host immunity has been extensively analyzed, but how Toxoplasma produces this virulence factor remains unclear. Here, we show that Toxoplasma transcription factor IWS1 is important for ROP18 mRNA expression in the parasite. Loss of IWS1 from virulent Toxoplasma leads to dramatically decreased ROP18 mRNA expression, resulting in profoundly decreased virulence due to greater activity of IFN-γ-dependent host immune responses. Thus, Toxoplasma prepares the critical virulence factor ROP18 via an IWS1-dependent system to negate IFN-γ-dependent antiparasitic immunity and thus survive in the host.
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Murillo-León M, Bastidas-Quintero AM, Endres NS, Schnepf D, Delgado-Betancourt E, Ohnemus A, Taylor GA, Schwemmle M, Staeheli P, Steinfeldt T. IFN-λ is protective against lethal oral Toxoplasma gondii infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.24.529861. [PMID: 36865100 PMCID: PMC9980175 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.24.529861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Interferons are essential for innate and adaptive immune responses against a wide variety of pathogens. Interferon lambda (IFN-λ) protects mucosal barriers during pathogen exposure. The intestinal epithelium is the first contact site for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) with its hosts and the first defense line that limits parasite infection. Knowledge of very early T. gondii infection events in the gut tissue is limited and a possible contribution of IFN-λ has not been investigated so far. Here, we demonstrate with systemic interferon lambda receptor (IFNLR1) and conditional (Villin-Cre) knockout mouse models and bone marrow chimeras of oral T. gondii infection and mouse intestinal organoids a significant impact of IFN-λ signaling in intestinal epithelial cells and neutrophils to T. gondii control in the gastrointestinal tract. Our results expand the repertoire of interferons that contribute to the control of T. gondii and may lead to novel therapeutic approaches against this world-wide zoonotic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateo Murillo-León
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Aura M. Bastidas-Quintero
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Niklas S. Endres
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Current address:Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Schnepf
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Current address: Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Annette Ohnemus
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gregory A. Taylor
- Departments of Medicine; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; and Immunology; and Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, NC 27710 Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, NC 27705 Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Martin Schwemmle
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Staeheli
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Steinfeldt
- Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Functional Characterization of 15 Novel Dense Granule Proteins in Toxoplasma gondii Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0307822. [PMID: 36515555 PMCID: PMC9927372 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03078-22] [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] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of the subcellular localization and function of dense granule proteins (GRAs) is of central importance for the understanding of host-parasite interaction and pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Here, we identified 15 novel GRAs and used C-terminal endogenous gene tagging to determine their localization at the intravacuolar network (IVN), parasitophorous vacuole (PV), or PV membrane (PVM) in the tachyzoites and at the periphery of the bradyzoites-containing cysts. The functions of the 15 gra genes were examined in type I RH strain and 5 of these gra genes were also evaluated in the cyst-forming type II Pru strain. The 15 novel gra genes were successfully disrupted by using CRISPR-Cas9 mediated homologous recombination and the results showed that 13 gra genes were not individually essential for T. gondii replication in vitro or virulence in mice during acute and chronic infection. Intriguingly, deletion of TGME49_266410 and TGME49_315910 in both RH and Pru strains decreased the parasite replication in vitro and attenuated its virulence, and also reduced the cyst-forming ability of the Pru strain in mice during chronic infection. Comparison of the transcriptomic profiles of the 15 gra genes suggests that they may play roles in other life cycle stages and genotypes of T. gondii. Taken together, our findings improve the understanding of T. gondii pathogenesis and demonstrate the involvement of two novel GRAs, TGME49_266410 and TGME49_315910, in the parasite replication and virulence. IMPORTANCE Dense granule proteins (GRAs) play important roles in Toxoplasma gondii pathogenicity. However, the functions of many putative GRAs have not been elucidated. Here, we found that 15 novel GRAs are secreted into intravacuolar network (IVN), parasitophorous vacuole (PV), or PV membrane (PVM) in tachyzoites and are located at the periphery of the bradyzoite-containing cysts. TGME49_266410 and TGME49_315910 were crucial to the growth of RH and Pru strains in vitro. Deletion of TGME49_266410 and TGME49_315910 attenuated the parasite virulence in mice. However, disruption of other 13 gra genes did not have a significant impact on the proliferation and pathogenicity of T. gondii in vitro or in vivo. The marked effects of the two novel GRAs (TGME49_266410 and TGME49_315910) on the in vitro growth and virulence of T. gondii are notable and warrant further elucidation of the temporal and spatial dynamics of translocation of these two novel GRAs and how do they interfere with host cell functions.
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Nano-Encapsulated Antioxidant: Retinoic Acid as a Natural Mucosal Adjuvant for Intranasal Immunization against Chronic Experimental Toxoplasmosis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8020106. [PMID: 36828522 PMCID: PMC9962073 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020106] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The tight relationship between immunity and retinoid levels provides evidence on the critical role of retinoic acid (RA) in regulating immune activity, especially the mucosal one. Mucosal immune response is the key for determination of the outcome of infection, particularly against intracellular mucosal pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii, where it plays a crucial role as a sentinel against parasite invasion. Herein, the immunomodulatory adjuvant role of RA was evaluated for prophylactic vaccination against chronic Toxoplasma infection. A quantity of 15 µg of RA pre-encapsulated with lipid-based nanoparticles (SLNs) was intranasally used in three doses, two weeks apart, as an adjuvant to the Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA). Afterward, mice were infected with 20 cysts of T. gondii (ME49 strain) and were sacrificed at the 4th week post-infection. Parasitological, immunological, biochemical, and histopathological studies were applied as vaccine efficacy measures. The protective role of the tested vaccine was noted using the statistically marked reduction in brain cyst count, accompanied by remarkable levels of protective IFN-γ and antibodies, with amelioration of infection-induced oxidative stress and brain pathology. Ultimately, this experiment outlined the prospective role of a novel, natural, nano-encapsulated and mucosal vaccine adjuvant RA-SLNs as a propitious candidate against chronic toxoplasmosis.
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Qamar W, Alsayeqh AF. A review of foodborne Toxoplasma gondii with a special focus on its prevalence in Pakistan from 2000 to 2022. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1080139. [PMID: 36744224 PMCID: PMC9890071 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1080139] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Third-world countries have a higher prevalence of food-related disorders than developed nations. Millions of people in underdeveloped countries are seriously at risk from the potential water supply contamination with protozoan diseases. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important protozoans causing diseases in livestock and humans. Despite the standard tests for diagnosing this parasite and different treatment methods, the spread of these parasites is uncontrollable and rising every year due to other management disorders. In this review, we summarize etiopathogenesis and prevalence in Pakistan. We looked for papers reporting the seroprevalence of T. gondii in people and animals between 2000 and 2022 in different databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Data on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Pakistan's domestic animals (sheep and goats, horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, and buffaloes), domestic pets (cats and dogs), poultry and rodents, and humans were gathered. According to the findings, sheep had an estimated pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii that varied from 11.20 to 26.50 %, and goats from 24.50 to 38.40%. Whereas in buffalo the opposite trend was followed, and the prevalence was observed is 0% in 2022, in horses, donkeys, and mules, only one study was reported according to which a high prevalence was observed in mules (28.60%) followed by donkeys (23.50%) and horses (23.50%), in cats 38.5% prevalence was observed in a recent study and in dogs 28.43% observed, and in humans from 22 to 60%. Human beings are found to be the most affected species showing high prevalence among all. According to our findings, animals and pets not only serve as a reservoir for the parasite but also serve as a direct route for human infection with T. gondii. The diagnostic techniques used in the observed studies were mostly serological testing whereas only a few studies have only been observed with molecular testing. To know the exact pattern of the disease for its control, the trend of molecular and advanced testing should be adopted as it is more reliable. Moreover, to decrease the transmission chances of T. gondii to humans, it is crucial to manage T. gondii infections in non-human species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warda Qamar
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia,*Correspondence: Abdullah F. Alsayeqh ✉
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Li D, Zhang Y, Li S, Zheng B. A novel Toxoplasma gondii TGGT1_316290 mRNA-LNP vaccine elicits protective immune response against toxoplasmosis in mice. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1145114. [PMID: 37025641 PMCID: PMC10070739 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1145114] [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: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) can infect almost all warm-blooded animals and is a major threat to global public health. Currently, there is no effective drug or vaccine for T. gondii. In this study, bioinformatics analysis on B and T cell epitopes revealed that TGGT1_316290 (TG290) had superior effects compared with the surface antigen 1 (SAG1). TG290 mRNA-LNP was constructed through the Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) technology and intramuscularly injected into the BALB/c mice, and its immunogenicity and efficacy were explored. Analysis of antibodies, cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10), lymphocytes proliferation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, dendritic cell (DC) maturation, as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes revealed that TG290 mRNA-LNP induced humoral and cellular immune responses in vaccinated mice. Furthermore, T-Box 21 (T-bet), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) p65, and interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) subunit were over-expressed in the TG290 mRNA-LNP-immunized group. The survival time of mice injected with TG290 mRNA-LNP was significantly longer (18.7 ± 3 days) compared with the survival of mice of the control groups (p < 0.0001). In addition, adoptive immunization using 300 μl serum and lymphocytes (5*107) of mice immunized with TG290 mRNA-LNP significantly prolonged the survival time of these mice. This study demonstrates that TG290 mRNA-LNP induces specific immune response against T. gondii and may be a potential toxoplasmosis vaccine candidate for this infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Novel Vaccine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yizhuo Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Novel Vaccine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shiyu Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Novel Vaccine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bin Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Novel Vaccine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-tech Vaccine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zheng,
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A. PORTES JULIANA, C. VOMMARO ROSSIANE, AYRES CALDAS LUCIO, S. MARTINS-DUARTE ERICA. Intracellular life of protozoan Toxoplasma gondii: Parasitophorous vacuole establishment and survival strategies. BIOCELL 2023. [DOI: 10.32604/biocell.2023.026629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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