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Stürmer VS, Stopper S, Binder P, Klemmer A, Lichti NP, Becker NB, Guizetti J. Progeny counter mechanism in malaria parasites is linked to extracellular resources. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011807. [PMID: 38051755 PMCID: PMC10723702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011807] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by the rapid proliferation of Plasmodium parasites in patients and disease severity correlates with the number of infected red blood cells in circulation. Parasite multiplication within red blood cells is called schizogony and occurs through an atypical multinucleated cell division mode. The mechanisms regulating the number of daughter cells produced by a single progenitor are poorly understood. We investigated underlying regulatory principles by quantifying nuclear multiplication dynamics in Plasmodium falciparum and knowlesi using super-resolution time-lapse microscopy. This confirmed that the number of daughter cells was consistent with a model in which a counter mechanism regulates multiplication yet incompatible with a timer mechanism. P. falciparum cell volume at the start of nuclear division correlated with the final number of daughter cells. As schizogony progressed, the nucleocytoplasmic volume ratio, which has been found to be constant in all eukaryotes characterized so far, increased significantly, possibly to accommodate the exponentially multiplying nuclei. Depleting nutrients by dilution of culture medium caused parasites to produce fewer merozoites and reduced proliferation but did not affect cell volume or total nuclear volume at the end of schizogony. Our findings suggest that the counter mechanism implicated in malaria parasite proliferation integrates extracellular resource status to modify progeny number during blood stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa S. Stürmer
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophie Stopper
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Binder
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Klemmer
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nicolas P. Lichti
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils B. Becker
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
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Rosenthal MR, Ng CL. High-content imaging as a tool to quantify and characterize malaria parasites. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100516. [PMID: 37533635 PMCID: PMC10391350 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
In 2021, Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for 619,000 reported malaria-related deaths. Resistance has been detected to every clinically used antimalarial, urging the development of novel antimalarials with uncompromised mechanisms of actions. High-content imaging allows researchers to collect and quantify numerous phenotypic properties at the single-cell level, and machine learning-based approaches enable automated classification and clustering of cell populations. By combining these technologies, we developed a method capable of robustly differentiating and quantifying P. falciparum asexual blood stages. These phenotypic properties also allow for the quantification of changes in parasite morphology. Here, we demonstrate that our analysis can be used to quantify schizont nuclei, a phenotype that previously had to be enumerated manually. By monitoring stage progression and quantifying parasite phenotypes, our method can discern stage specificity of new compounds, thus providing insight into the compound's mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa R. Rosenthal
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Caroline L. Ng
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Global Center for Health Security, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
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Ong HW, Adderley J, Tobin AB, Drewry DH, Doerig C. Parasite and host kinases as targets for antimalarials. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:151-169. [PMID: 36942408 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2185511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The deployment of Artemisinin-based combination therapies and transmission control measures led to a decrease in the global malaria burden over the recent decades. Unfortunately, this trend is now reversing, in part due to resistance against available treatments, calling for the development of new drugs against untapped targets to prevent cross-resistance. AREAS COVERED In view of their demonstrated druggability in noninfectious diseases, protein kinases represent attractive targets. Kinase-focussed antimalarial drug discovery is facilitated by the availability of kinase-targeting scaffolds and large libraries of inhibitors, as well as high-throughput phenotypic and biochemical assays. We present an overview of validated Plasmodium kinase targets and their inhibitors, and briefly discuss the potential of host cell kinases as targets for host-directed therapy. EXPERT OPINION We propose priority research areas, including (i) diversification of Plasmodium kinase targets (at present most efforts focus on a very small number of targets); (ii) polypharmacology as an avenue to limit resistance (kinase inhibitors are highly suitable in this respect); and (iii) preemptive limitation of resistance through host-directed therapy (targeting host cell kinases that are required for parasite survival) and transmission-blocking through targeting sexual stage-specific kinases as a strategy to protect curative drugs from the spread of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wee Ong
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Jack Adderley
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Rmit University, Bundoora VIC Australia
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - David H Drewry
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Christian Doerig
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Rmit University, Bundoora VIC Australia
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Abstract
Malaria remains a significant threat to global health, and despite concerted efforts to curb the disease, malaria-related morbidity and mortality increased in recent years. Malaria is caused by unicellular eukaryotes of the genus Plasmodium, and all clinical manifestations occur during asexual proliferation of the parasite inside host erythrocytes. In the blood stage, Plasmodium proliferates through an unusual cell cycle mode called schizogony. Contrary to most studied eukaryotes, which divide by binary fission, the parasite undergoes several rounds of DNA replication and nuclear division that are not directly followed by cytokinesis, resulting in multinucleated cells. Moreover, despite sharing a common cytoplasm, these nuclei multiply asynchronously. Schizogony challenges our current models of cell cycle regulation and, at the same time, offers targets for therapeutic interventions. Over the recent years, the adaptation of advanced molecular and cell biological techniques have given us deeper insight how DNA replication, nuclear division, and cytokinesis are coordinated. Here, we review our current understanding of the chronological events that characterize the unusual cell division cycle of P. falciparum in the clinically relevant blood stage of infection.
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PfSRPK1 Regulates Asexual Blood Stage Schizogony and Is Essential for Male Gamete Formation. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0214122. [PMID: 36094218 PMCID: PMC9602455 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02141-22] [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: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine/arginine-rich protein kinases (SRPKs) are cell cycle-regulated serine/threonine protein kinases and are important regulators of splicing factors. In this study, we functionally characterize SRPK1 of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum SRPK1 (PfSRPK1) was expressed in asexual blood-stage and sexual-stage gametocytes. Pfsrpk1- parasites formed asexual schizonts that generated far fewer merozoites than wild-type parasites, causing reduced replication rates. Pfsrpk1- parasites also showed a severe defect in the differentiation of male gametes, causing a complete block in parasite transmission to mosquitoes. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of wild-type PfNF54 and Pfsrpk1- stage V gametocytes suggested a role for PfSRPK1 in regulating transcript splicing and transcript abundance of genes coding for (i) microtubule/cilium morphogenesis-related proteins, (ii) proteins involved in cyclic nucleotide metabolic processes, (iii) proteins involved in signaling such as PfMAP2, (iv) lipid metabolism enzymes, (v) proteins of osmophilic bodies, and (vi) crystalloid components. Our study reveals an essential role for PfSRPK1 in parasite cell morphogenesis and suggests this kinase as a target to prevent malaria transmission from humans to mosquitoes. IMPORTANCE Plasmodium sexual stages represent a critical bottleneck in the parasite life cycle. Gametocytes taken up in an infectious blood meal by female anopheline mosquito get activated to form gametes and fuse to form short-lived zygotes, which transform into ookinetes to infect mosquitoes. In the present study, we demonstrate that PfSRPK1 is important for merozoite formation and critical for male gametogenesis and is involved in transcript homeostasis for numerous parasite genes. Targeting PfSRPK1 and its downstream pathways may reduce parasite replication and help achieve effective malaria transmission-blocking strategies.
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Krombauer GC, Guedes KDS, Banfi FF, Nunes RR, Fonseca ALD, Siqueira EPD, Bellei JCB, Scopel KKG, Varotti FDP, Sanchez BAM. In vitro and in silico assessment of new beta amino ketones with antiplasmodial activity. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022; 55:e0590. [PMID: 36169491 PMCID: PMC9549944 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0590-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on the current need for new drugs against malaria, our study evaluated eight beta amino ketones in silico and in vitro for potential antimalarial activity. METHODS Using the Brazilian Malaria Molecular Targets (BraMMT) and OCTOPUS® software programs, the pattern of interactions of beta-amino ketones was described against different proteins of P. falciparum and screened to evaluate their physicochemical properties. The in vitro antiplasmodial activities of the compounds were evaluated using a SYBR Green-based assay. In parallel, in vitro cytotoxic data were obtained using the MTT assay. RESULTS Among the eight compounds, compound 1 was the most active and selective against P. falciparum (IC50 = 0.98 µM; SI > 60). Six targets were identified in BraMMT that interact with compounds exhibiting a stronger binding energy than the crystallographic ligand: P. falciparum triophosphate phosphoglycolate complex (1LYX), P. falciparum reductase (2OK8), PfPK7 (2PML), P. falciparum glutaredoxin (4N0Z), PfATP6, and PfHT. CONCLUSIONS The physicochemical properties of compound 1 were compatible with the set of criteria established by the Lipinski rule and demonstrated its potential as a drug prototype for antiplasmodial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Camila Krombauer
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
| | - Karla de Sena Guedes
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
| | - Felipe Fingir Banfi
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
| | - Renata Rachide Nunes
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Campus Centro Oeste, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Biológica (NQBio), Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Amanda Luisa da Fonseca
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Campus Centro Oeste, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Biológica (NQBio), Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Jéssica Côrrea Bezerra Bellei
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Centro de Pesquisas em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Kézia Katiani Gorza Scopel
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Centro de Pesquisas em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Fernando de Pilla Varotti
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Campus Centro Oeste, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Biológica (NQBio), Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Bruno Antônio Marinho Sanchez
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Apoio Didático em Saúde, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Doenças Tropicais, Sinop, MT, Brasil
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Nandi S, Ahmed S, Saxena AK. Exploring the Role of Antioxidants to Combat Oxidative Stress in Malaria Parasites. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:2029-2044. [PMID: 35382719 DOI: 10.2174/1568026622666220405121643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria, a global challenge, is a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium species. Approximately 229 million cases of malaria were reported in 2019. Major incidences occur in various continents, including African and Eastern Mediterranean Continents and South-East Asia. INTRODUCTION Despite the overall decline in global incidence from 2010 to 2018, the rate of decline has been almost constant since 2014. The morbidity and mortality have been accelerated due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by oxidative stress generated by the parasite responsible for the destruction of host metabolism and cell nutrients. METHODS The excessive release of free radicals is associated with the infection in the animal or human body by the parasites. This may be related to a reduction in nutrients required for the generation of antioxidants and the destruction of cells by parasite activity. Therefore, an intensive literature search has been carried out to find the natural antioxidants used to neutralize the free radicals generated during malarial infection. RESULTS The natural antioxidants may be useful as an adjuvant treatment along with the antimalarial chemotherapeutics to reduce the death rate and enhance the success rate of malaria treatment. CONCLUSION In this manuscript, an attempt has been made to provide significant insight into the antioxidant activities of herbal extracts against malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisir Nandi
- Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kashipur, 244713, India
| | - Sarfaraz Ahmed
- Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kashipur, 244713, India
| | - Anil Kumar Saxena
- Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kashipur, 244713, India
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Klaus S, Binder P, Kim J, Machado M, Funaya C, Schaaf V, Klaschka D, Kudulyte A, Cyrklaff M, Laketa V, Höfer T, Guizetti J, Becker NB, Frischknecht F, Schwarz US, Ganter M. Asynchronous nuclear cycles in multinucleated Plasmodium falciparum facilitate rapid proliferation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj5362. [PMID: 35353560 PMCID: PMC8967237 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites proliferate within erythrocytes through schizogony, forming multinucleated stages before cellularization. Nuclear multiplication does not follow a strict geometric 2n progression, and each proliferative cycle produces a variable number of progeny. Here, by tracking nuclei and DNA replication, we show that individual nuclei replicate their DNA at different times, despite residing in a shared cytoplasm. Extrapolating from experimental data using mathematical modeling, we provide strong indication that a limiting factor exists, which slows down the nuclear multiplication rate. Consistent with this prediction, our data show that temporally overlapping DNA replication events were significantly slower than partially overlapping or nonoverlapping events. Our findings suggest the existence of evolutionary pressure that selects for asynchronous DNA replication, balancing available resources with rapid pathogen proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severina Klaus
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Binder
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juyeop Kim
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marta Machado
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Charlotta Funaya
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Violetta Schaaf
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Darius Klaschka
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aiste Kudulyte
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marek Cyrklaff
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vibor Laketa
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Höfer
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils B. Becker
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich S. Schwarz
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Ganter
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Pereira PHS, Garcia CRS. Evidence of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCR) in the Parasitic Protozoa Plasmodium falciparum-Sensing the Host Environment and Coupling within Its Molecular Signaling Toolkit. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12381. [PMID: 34830263 PMCID: PMC8620569 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout evolution, the need for single-celled organisms to associate and form a single cluster of cells has had several evolutionary advantages. In complex, multicellular organisms, each tissue or organ has a specialty and function that make life together possible, and the organism as a whole needs to act in balance and adapt to changes in the environment. Sensory organs are essential for connecting external stimuli into a biological response, through the senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. The G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are responsible for many of these senses and therefore play a key role in the perception of the cells' external environment, enabling interaction and coordinated development between each cell of a multicellular organism. The malaria-causing protozoan parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has a complex life cycle that is extremely dependent on a finely regulated cellular signaling machinery. In this review, we summarize strong evidence and the main candidates of GPCRs in protozoan parasites. Interestingly, one of these GPCRs is a sensor for K+ shift in Plasmodium falciparum, PfSR25. Studying this family of proteins in P. falciparum could have a significant impact, both on understanding the history of the evolution of GPCRs and on finding new targets for antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Celia R. S. Garcia
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil;
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Dos Santos BM, Pereira PH, Garcia CR. Molecular basis of synchronous replication of malaria parasites in the blood stage. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:210-215. [PMID: 34428626 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The search for host factors that leads to malaria parasite synchronization has been the focus of several laboratories. The host hormone melatonin synchronizes Plasmodium falciparum in culture by increasing the number of mature parasite stages through a PLC-IP3 activation. Melatonin signaling is linked to crosstalk between Ca2+-cAMP that results in PKA activation. Two other kinases, PfPK7 and PfeIK1, and the nuclear protein PfMORC that lacks melatonin sensitivity in the inducible knock-down parasites are also identified as part of the hormone-signal transduction pathways. Melatonin also modulates P. falciparum mitochondrial fission genes FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2 in a stage-specific manner. How these multiple molecular mechanisms are orchestrated to lead to parasite synchronization is a fascinating and opened biological question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedito M Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Antimalarial Discovery, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Hs Pereira
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Antimalarial Discovery, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célia Rs Garcia
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Antimalarial Discovery, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
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12
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Pereira PHS, Borges-Pereira L, Garcia CRS. Evidences of G Coupled-Protein Receptor (GPCR) Signaling in the human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum for Sensing its Microenvironment and the Role of Purinergic Signaling in Malaria Parasites. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 21:171-180. [PMID: 32851963 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200826122716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The nucleotides were discovered in the early 19th century and a few years later, the role of such molecules in energy metabolism and cell survival was postulated. In 1972, a pioneer work by Burnstock and colleagues suggested that ATP could also work as a neurotransmitter, which was known as the "purinergic hypothesis". The idea of ATP working as a signaling molecule faced initial resistance until the discovery of the receptors for ATP and other nucleotides, called purinergic receptors. Among the purinergic receptors, the P2Y family is of great importance because it comprises of G proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are widespread among different organisms. These receptors work in the cells' ability to sense the external environment, which involves: to sense a dangerous situation or detect a pheromone through smell; the taste of food that should not be eaten; response to hormones that alter metabolism according to the body's need; or even transform light into an electrical stimulus to generate vision. Advances in understanding the mechanism of action of GPCRs shed light on increasingly promising treatments for diseases that have hitherto remained incurable, or the possibility of abolishing side effects from therapies widely used today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H S Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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13
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Simon CS, Stürmer VS, Guizetti J. How Many Is Enough? - Challenges of Multinucleated Cell Division in Malaria Parasites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:658616. [PMID: 34026661 PMCID: PMC8137892 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.658616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulating the number of progeny generated by replicative cell cycles is critical for any organism to best adapt to its environment. Classically, the decision whether to divide further is made after cell division is completed by cytokinesis and can be triggered by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Contrarily, cell cycles of some species, such as the malaria-causing parasites, go through multinucleated cell stages. Hence, their number of progeny is determined prior to the completion of cell division. This should fundamentally affect how the process is regulated and raises questions about advantages and challenges of multinucleation in eukaryotes. Throughout their life cycle Plasmodium spp. parasites undergo four phases of extensive proliferation, which differ over three orders of magnitude in the amount of daughter cells that are produced by a single progenitor. Even during the asexual blood stage proliferation parasites can produce very variable numbers of progeny within one replicative cycle. Here, we review the few factors that have been shown to affect those numbers. We further provide a comparative quantification of merozoite numbers in several P. knowlesi and P. falciparum parasite strains, and we discuss the general processes that may regulate progeny number in the context of host-parasite interactions. Finally, we provide a perspective of the critical knowledge gaps hindering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this exciting and atypical mode of parasite multiplication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julien Guizetti
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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14
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Lima MNN, Borba JVB, Cassiano GC, Mottin M, Mendonça SS, Silva AC, Tomaz KCP, Calit J, Bargieri DY, Costa FTM, Andrade CH. Artificial Intelligence Applied to the Rapid Identification of New Antimalarial Candidates with Dual-Stage Activity. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:1093-1103. [PMID: 33247522 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2002] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Increasing reports of multidrug-resistant malaria parasites urge the discovery of new effective drugs with different chemical scaffolds. Protein kinases play a key role in many cellular processes such as signal transduction and cell division, making them interesting targets in many diseases. Protein kinase 7 (PK7) is an orphan kinase from the Plasmodium genus, essential for the sporogonic cycle of these parasites. Here, we applied a robust and integrative artificial intelligence-assisted virtual-screening (VS) approach using shape-based and machine learning models to identify new potential PK7 inhibitors with in vitro antiplasmodial activity. Eight virtual hits were experimentally evaluated, and compound LabMol-167 inhibited ookinete conversion of Plasmodium berghei and blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum at nanomolar concentrations with low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. As PK7 does not have an essential role in the Plasmodium blood stage and our virtual screening strategy aimed for both PK7 and blood-stage inhibition, we conducted an in silico target fishing approach and propose that this compound might also inhibit P. falciparum PK5, acting as a possible dual-target inhibitor. Finally, docking studies of LabMol-167 with P. falciparum PK7 and PK5 proteins highlighted key interactions for further hit-to lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilia N N Lima
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goias, Rua 240, qd. 87, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Joyce V B Borba
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goias, Rua 240, qd. 87, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil.,Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo C Cassiano
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Melina Mottin
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goias, Rua 240, qd. 87, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Sabrina S Mendonça
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goias, Rua 240, qd. 87, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Arthur C Silva
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goias, Rua 240, qd. 87, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Kaira C P Tomaz
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Calit
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel Y Bargieri
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabio T M Costa
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Carolina H Andrade
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goias, Rua 240, qd. 87, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil.,Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacintho da Silva, Department of Genetics Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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15
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Adderley J, Williamson T, Doerig C. Parasite and Host Erythrocyte Kinomics of Plasmodium Infection. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:508-524. [PMID: 33593681 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains a heavy public health and socioeconomic burden in tropical and subtropical regions. Increasing resistance against front-line treatments implies that novel targets for antimalarial intervention are urgently required. Protein kinases of both the parasites and their host cells possess strong potential in this respect. We present an overview of the updated kinome of Plasmodium falciparum, the species that is the largest contributor to malaria mortality, and of current knowledge pertaining to the function of parasite-encoded protein kinases during the parasite's life cycle. Furthermore, we detail recent advances in drug initiatives targeting Plasmodium kinases and outline the potential of protein kinases in the context of the growing field of host-directed therapies, which is currently being explored as a novel way to combat parasite drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Adderley
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Tayla Williamson
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
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16
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A nuclear protein, PfMORC confers melatonin dependent synchrony of the human malaria parasite P. falciparum in the asexual stage. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2057. [PMID: 33479315 PMCID: PMC7820235 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81235-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The host hormone melatonin is known to modulate the asexual cell-cycle of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the kinase PfPK7 is fundamental in the downstream signaling pathways. The nuclear protein PfMORC displays a histidine kinase domain and is involved in parasite cell cycle control. By using a real-time assay, we show a 24 h (h) rhythmic expression of PfMORC at the parasite asexual cycle and the expression is dramatically changed when parasites were treated with 100 nM melatonin for 17 h. Moreover, PfMORC expression was severely affected in PfPK7 knockout (PfPK7−) parasites following melatonin treatment. Parasites expressing 3D7morc-GFP shows nuclear localization of the protein during the asexual stage of parasite development. Although the PfMORC knockdown had no significant impact on the parasite proliferation in vitro it significantly changed the ratio of the different asexual intraerythrocytic stages of the parasites upon the addition of melatonin. Our data reveal that in addition to the upstream melatonin signaling pathways such as IP3 generation, calcium, and cAMP rise, a nuclear protein, PfMORC is essential for the hormone response in parasite synchronization.
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17
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Pereira PHS, Garcia CRS. Melatonin action in Plasmodium infection: Searching for molecules that modulate the asexual cycle as a strategy to impair the parasite cycle. J Pineal Res 2021; 70:e12700. [PMID: 33025644 PMCID: PMC7757246 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Half of the world's population lives in countries at risk of malaria infection, which results in approximately 450,000 deaths annually. Malaria parasites infect erythrocytes in a coordinated manner, with cycle durations in multiples of 24 hours, which reflects a behavior consistent with the host's circadian cycle. Interference in cycle coordination can help the immune system to naturally fight infection. Consequently, there is a search for new drugs that interfere with the cycle duration for combined treatment with conventional antimalarials. Melatonin appears to be a key host hormone responsible for regulating circadian behavior in the parasite cycle. In addition to host factors, there are still unknown factors intrinsic to the parasite that control the cycle duration. In this review, we present a series of reports of indole compounds and melatonin derivatives with antimalarial activity that were tested on several species of Plasmodium to evaluate the cytotoxicity to parasites and human cells, in addition to the ability to interfere with the development of the erythrocytic cycle. Most of the reported compounds had an IC50 value in the low micromolar range, without any toxicity to human cells. Triptosil, an indole derivative of melatonin, was able to inhibit the effect of melatonin in vitro without causing changes to the parasitemia. The wide variety of tested compounds indicates that it is possible to develop a compound capable of safely eliminating parasites from the host and interfering with the life cycle, which is promising for the development of new combined therapies against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H. S. Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological AnalysesSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Celia R. S. Garcia
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological AnalysesSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of São PauloSão PauloBrazil
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18
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Mustière R, Vanelle P, Primas N. Plasmodial Kinase Inhibitors Targeting Malaria: Recent Developments. Molecules 2020; 25:E5949. [PMID: 33334080 PMCID: PMC7765515 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in reducing malaria cases and ensuing deaths is threatened by factors like mutations that induce resistance to artemisinin derivatives. Multiple drugs are currently in clinical trials for malaria treatment, including some with novel mechanisms of action. One of these, MMV390048, is a plasmodial kinase inhibitor. This review lists the recently developed molecules which target plasmodial kinases. A systematic review of the literature was performed using CAPLUS and MEDLINE databases from 2005 to 2020. It covers a total of 60 articles and describes about one hundred compounds targeting 22 plasmodial kinases. This work highlights the strong potential of compounds targeting plasmodial kinases for future drug therapies. However, the majority of the Plasmodium kinome remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrice Vanelle
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France;
| | - Nicolas Primas
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France;
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19
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Moolman C, van der Sluis R, Beteck RM, Legoabe LJ. An Update on Development of Small-Molecule Plasmodial Kinase Inhibitors. Molecules 2020; 25:E5182. [PMID: 33171706 PMCID: PMC7664427 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria control relies heavily on the small number of existing antimalarial drugs. However, recurring antimalarial drug resistance necessitates the continual generation of new antimalarial drugs with novel modes of action. In order to shift the focus from only controlling this disease towards elimination and eradication, next-generation antimalarial agents need to address the gaps in the malaria drug arsenal. This includes developing drugs for chemoprotection, treating severe malaria and blocking transmission. Plasmodial kinases are promising targets for next-generation antimalarial drug development as they mediate critical cellular processes and some are active across multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle. This review gives an update on the progress made thus far with regards to plasmodial kinase small-molecule inhibitor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantalle Moolman
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
| | - Rencia van der Sluis
- Focus Area for Human Metabolomics, Biochemistry, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa;
| | - Richard M. Beteck
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
| | - Lesetja J. Legoabe
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
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20
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Abstract
Malaria is one of the most impacting public health problems in tropical and subtropical areas of the globe, with approximately 200 million cases worldwide annually. In the absence of an effective vaccine, rapid treatment is vital for effective malaria control. However, parasite resistance to currently available drugs underscores the urgent need for identifying new antimalarial therapies with new mechanisms of action. Among potential drug targets for developing new antimalarial candidates, protein kinases are attractive. These enzymes catalyze the phosphorylation of several proteins, thereby regulating a variety of cellular processes and playing crucial roles in the development of all stages of the malaria parasite life cycle. Moreover, the large phylogenetic distance between Plasmodium species and its human host is reflected in marked differences in structure and function of malaria protein kinases between the homologs of both species, indicating that selectivity can be attained. In this review, we describe the functions of the different types of Plasmodium kinases and highlight the main recent advances in the discovery of kinase inhibitors as potential new antimalarial drug candidates.
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21
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de Araújo RV, Santos SS, Sanches LM, Giarolla J, El Seoud O, Ferreira EI. Malaria and tuberculosis as diseases of neglected populations: state of the art in chemotherapy and advances in the search for new drugs. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e200229. [PMID: 33053077 PMCID: PMC7534959 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria and tuberculosis are no longer considered to be neglected diseases by the World Health Organization. However, both are huge challenges and public health problems in the world, which affect poor people, today referred to as neglected populations. In addition, malaria and tuberculosis present the same difficulties regarding the treatment, such as toxicity and the microbial resistance. The increase of Plasmodium resistance to the available drugs along with the insurgence of multidrug- and particularly tuberculosis drug-resistant strains are enough to justify efforts towards the development of novel medicines for both diseases. This literature review provides an overview of the state of the art of antimalarial and antituberculosis chemotherapies, emphasising novel drugs introduced in the pharmaceutical market and the advances in research of new candidates for these diseases, and including some aspects of their mechanism/sites of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renan Vinicius de Araújo
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Soraya Silva Santos
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Luccas Missfeldt Sanches
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Jeanine Giarolla
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Omar El Seoud
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Química, Departamento de
Química Fundamental, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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22
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Hammarton TC. Who Needs a Contractile Actomyosin Ring? The Plethora of Alternative Ways to Divide a Protozoan Parasite. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:397. [PMID: 31824870 PMCID: PMC6881465 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokinesis, or the division of the cytoplasm, following the end of mitosis or meiosis, is accomplished in animal cells, fungi, and amoebae, by the constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring, comprising filamentous actin, myosin II, and associated proteins. However, despite this being the best-studied mode of cytokinesis, it is restricted to the Opisthokonta and Amoebozoa, since members of other evolutionary supergroups lack myosin II and must, therefore, employ different mechanisms. In particular, parasitic protozoa, many of which cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans and animals as well as considerable economic losses, employ a wide diversity of mechanisms to divide, few, if any, of which involve myosin II. In some cases, cell division is not only myosin II-independent, but actin-independent too. Mechanisms employed range from primitive mechanical cell rupture (cytofission), to motility- and/or microtubule remodeling-dependent mechanisms, to budding involving the constriction of divergent contractile rings, to hijacking host cell division machinery, with some species able to utilize multiple mechanisms. Here, I review current knowledge of cytokinesis mechanisms and their molecular control in mammalian-infective parasitic protozoa from the Excavata, Alveolata, and Amoebozoa supergroups, highlighting their often-underappreciated diversity and complexity. Billions of people and animals across the world are at risk from these pathogens, for which vaccines and/or optimal treatments are often not available. Exploiting the divergent cell division machinery in these parasites may provide new avenues for the treatment of protozoal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tansy C Hammarton
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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23
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Sexton AE, Doerig C, Creek DJ, Carvalho TG. Post-Genomic Approaches to Understanding Malaria Parasite Biology: Linking Genes to Biological Functions. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1269-1278. [PMID: 31243988 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium species are evolutionarily distant from model eukaryotes, and as a consequence they exhibit many non-canonical cellular processes. In the post-genomic era, functional "omics" disciplines (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) have accelerated our understanding of unique aspects of the biology of malaria parasites. Functional "omics" tools, in combination with genetic manipulations, have offered new opportunities to investigate the function of previously uncharacterized genes. Knowledge of basic parasite biology is fundamental to understanding drug modes of action, mechanisms of drug resistance, and relevance of vaccine candidates. This Perspective highlights recent "omics"-based discoveries in basic biology and gene function of the most virulent human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E. Sexton
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- Centre for Chronic, Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases, Biomedical Sciences Cluster, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, 264 Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Teresa G. Carvalho
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
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24
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Scarpelli PH, Tessarin‐Almeida G, Viçoso KL, Lima WR, Borges‐Pereira L, Meissner KA, Wrenger C, Rafaello A, Rizzuto R, Pozzan T, Garcia CRS. Melatonin activates FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2 Plasmodium falciparum related-genes for mitochondria fission: Mitoemerald-GFP as a tool to visualize mitochondria structure. J Pineal Res 2019; 66:e12484. [PMID: 29480948 PMCID: PMC6585791 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria causes millions of deaths worldwide and is considered a huge burden to underdeveloped countries. The number of cases with resistance to all antimalarials is continuously increasing, making the identification of novel drugs a very urgent necessity. A potentially very interesting target for novel therapeutic intervention is the parasite mitochondrion. In this work, we studied in Plasmodium falciparum 3 genes coding for proteins homologues of the mammalian FIS1 (Mitochondrial Fission Protein 1) and DRP1 (Dynamin Related Protein 1) involved in mitochondrial fission. We studied the expression of P. falciparum genes that show ample sequence and structural homologies with the mammalian counterparts, namely FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2. The encoded proteins are characterized by a distinct pattern of expression throughout the erythrocytic cycle of P. falciparum, and their mRNAs are modulated by treating the parasite with the host hormone melatonin. We have previously reported that the knockout of the Plasmodium gene that codes for protein kinase 7 is essential for melatonin sensing. We here show that PfPk7 knockout results in major alterations of mitochondrial fission genes expression when compared to wild-type parasites, and no change in fission proteins expression upon treatment with the host hormone. Finally, we have compared the morphological characteristics (using MitoTracker Red CMX Ros) and oxygen consumption properties of P. falciparum mitochondria in wild-type parasites and PfPk7 Knockout strains. A novel GFP construct targeted to the mitochondrial matrix to wild-type parasites was also developed to visualize P. falciparum mitochondria. We here show that, the functional characteristics of P. falciparum are profoundly altered in cells lacking protein kinase 7, suggesting that this enzyme plays a major role in the control of mitochondrial morphogenesis and maturation during the intra-erythrocyte cell cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H. Scarpelli
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | | | - Kênia Lopes Viçoso
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Wania Rezende Lima
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais‐MedicinaUniversidade Federal de Mato Grosso‐Campus RondonópolisMato GrossoBrazil
| | - Lucas Borges‐Pereira
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Kamila Anna Meissner
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Departamento de ParasitologiaInstituto de Ciências BiomédicasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Anna Rafaello
- CNR Neurosciences InstituteUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | | | - Tullio Pozzan
- CNR Neurosciences InstituteUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - Celia R. S. Garcia
- Departamento de FisiologiaInstituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de BiociênciasUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
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25
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Pease BN, Huttlin EL, Jedrychowski MP, Dorin-Semblat D, Sebastiani D, Segarra DT, Roberts BF, Chakrabarti R, Doerig C, Gygi SP, Chakrabarti D. Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum Atypical Kinase PfPK7 - Dependent Phosphoproteome. J Proteome Res 2018; 17:2112-2123. [PMID: 29678115 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PfPK7 is an "orphan" kinase displaying regions of homology to multiple protein kinase families. PfPK7 functions in regulating parasite proliferation/development as evident from the phenotype analysis of knockout parasites. Despite this regulatory role, the functions of PfPK7 in signaling pathways are not known. To better understand PfPK7-regulated phosphorylation events, we performed isobaric tag-based quantitative comparative phosphoproteomics of the schizont and segmenter stages from wild-type and pfpk7 - parasite lines. This analysis identified 3,875 phosphorylation sites on 1,047 proteins. Among these phosphorylation events, 146 proteins with 239 phosphorylation sites displayed reduction in phosphorylation in the absence of PfPK7. Further analysis of the phosphopeptides revealed three motifs whose phosphorylation was down regulated in the pfpk7 - cell line in both schizonts and segmenters. Decreased phosphorylation following loss of PfPK7 indicates that these proteins may function as direct substrates of PfPK7. We demonstrated that PfPK7 is active toward three of these potential novel substrates; however, PfPK7 did not phosphorylate many of the other proteins, suggesting that decreased phosphorylation in these proteins is an indirect effect. Our phosphoproteomics analysis is the first study to identify direct substrates of PfPK7 and reveals potential downstream or compensatory signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany N Pease
- Division of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida 32826 , United States
| | - Edward L Huttlin
- Department of Cell Biology , Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
| | - Mark P Jedrychowski
- Department of Cell Biology , Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
| | - Dominique Dorin-Semblat
- Inserm U665, Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine , 6, rue Alexandre Cabanel , 75739 Paris Cedex 5, France
| | - Daniela Sebastiani
- Division of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida 32826 , United States
| | - Daniel T Segarra
- Division of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida 32826 , United States
| | - Bracken F Roberts
- Division of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida 32826 , United States
| | - Ratna Chakrabarti
- Division of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida 32826 , United States
| | - Christian Doerig
- Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology , Monash University , Clayton , Victoria 3800 , Australia
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology , Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
| | - Debopam Chakrabarti
- Division of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida 32826 , United States
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26
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Malaria Parasites in a Hungry Host: Kinases and Host Caloric Restriction Brought Together. Trends Parasitol 2017; 33:831-832. [PMID: 28923378 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A study recently published in Nature links reduced calorie nutritional intake of host mice with (i) reduced severity of cerebral malaria, (ii) decreased parasitemia, and (iii) activation of a nutrient-sensing pathway that regulates the parasite's proliferation rate. Here, we discuss these findings in the context of human malaria pathology and Plasmodium kinomics.
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27
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Moraes MS, Budu A, Singh MK, Borges-Pereira L, Levano-Garcia J, Currà C, Picci L, Pace T, Ponzi M, Pozzan T, Garcia CRS. Plasmodium falciparum GPCR-like receptor SR25 mediates extracellular K + sensing coupled to Ca 2+ signaling and stress survival. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9545. [PMID: 28842684 PMCID: PMC5573319 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09959-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is exposed, during its development, to major changes of ionic composition in its surrounding medium. We demonstrate that the P. falciparum serpentine-like receptor PfSR25 is a monovalent cation sensor capable of modulating Ca2+ signaling in the parasites. Changing from high (140 mM) to low (5.4 mM) KCl concentration triggers [Ca2+]cyt increase in isolated parasites and this Ca2+ rise is blocked either by phospholipase C (PLC) inhibition or by depleting the parasite’s internal Ca2+ pools. This response persists even in the absence of free extracellular Ca2+ and cannot be elicited by addition of Na+, Mg2+ or Ca2+. However, when the PfSR25 gene was deleted, no effect on [Ca2+]cyt was observed in response to changing KCl concentration in the knocked out (PfSR25−) parasite. Finally, we also demonstrate that: i) PfSR25 plays a role in parasite volume regulation, as hyperosmotic stress induces a significant decrease in parasite volume in wild type (wt), but not in PfSR25− parasites; ii) parasites lacking PfSR25 show decreased parasitemia and metacaspase gene expression on exposure to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and iii), compared to PfSR25− parasites, wt parasites showed a better survival in albumax-deprived condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam S Moraes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Budu
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Maneesh K Singh
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Lucas Borges-Pereira
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Julio Levano-Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Chiara Currà
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.,Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, N. Plastira 100, GR 700 13, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Leonardo Picci
- Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, 0161, Roma, Italy
| | - Tomasino Pace
- Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, 0161, Roma, Italy
| | - Marta Ponzi
- Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, 0161, Roma, Italy
| | - Tullio Pozzan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Institute of Neuroscience, Padova, Unit, National Research Council, Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
| | - Célia R S Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.
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28
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Mancio-Silva L, Slavic K, Grilo Ruivo MT, Grosso AR, Modrzynska KK, Vera IM, Sales-Dias J, Gomes AR, MacPherson CR, Crozet P, Adamo M, Baena-Gonzalez E, Tewari R, Llinás M, Billker O, Mota MM. Nutrient sensing modulates malaria parasite virulence. Nature 2017; 547:213-216. [PMID: 28678779 PMCID: PMC5511512 DOI: 10.1038/nature23009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The lifestyle of intracellular pathogens, such as malaria parasites, is intimately connected to that of their host, primarily for nutrient supply. Nutrients act not only as primary sources of energy but also as regulators of gene expression, metabolism and growth, through various signalling networks that enable cells to sense and adapt to varying environmental conditions. Canonical nutrient-sensing pathways are presumed to be absent from the causative agent of malaria, Plasmodium, thus raising the question of whether these parasites can sense and cope with fluctuations in host nutrient levels. Here we show that Plasmodium blood-stage parasites actively respond to host dietary calorie alterations through rearrangement of their transcriptome accompanied by substantial adjustment of their multiplication rate. A kinome analysis combined with chemical and genetic approaches identified KIN as a critical regulator that mediates sensing of nutrients and controls a transcriptional response to the host nutritional status. KIN shares homology with SNF1/AMPKα, and yeast complementation studies suggest that it is part of a functionally conserved cellular energy-sensing pathway. Overall, these findings reveal a key parasite nutrient-sensing mechanism that is critical for modulating parasite replication and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Mancio-Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ksenija Slavic
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Margarida T. Grilo Ruivo
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Grosso
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Iset Medina Vera
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Sales-Dias
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Gomes
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | | | | | - Mattia Adamo
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Chemistry, Center for Malaria Research, and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Oliver Billker
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Maria M. Mota
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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29
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Jaijyan DK, Verma PK, Singh AP. A novel FIKK kinase regulates the development of mosquito and liver stages of the malaria. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39285. [PMID: 27995998 PMCID: PMC5172157 DOI: 10.1038/srep39285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is the most important post-translational event in the regulation of various essential signaling pathways in a cell. Here, we show the functional characterization of a FIKK family protein kinase of the rodent malaria parasite (PbMLFK), which is expressed only in mosquito and liver stages and contains two functional C-terminal PEXEL motifs. We demonstrate that this protein plays a role in mosquito and liver stages of parasite growth. The oocysts of PbMLFK-deficient parasites produced 4-fold fewer sporozoites. In the liver of infected mice, PbMLFK-deficient parasites grew 100-fold less than did wild type parasites. We also show that the C-terminal domain of this protein has a functional serine-threonine kinase and that its activity was inhibited by a known PKA inhibitor. Transcriptome analysis of infected host cells suggests that in absence of this protein expression of the 288 host mRNAs are perturbed which are primarily associated with the immune system, cell cycle and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dabbu Kumar Jaijyan
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - Praveen Kumar Verma
- Plant Immunity Laboratory, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - Agam Prasad Singh
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-110067, India
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30
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Chakraborty A. Emerging drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum: A review of well-characterized drug targets for novel antimalarial chemotherapy. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(16)61090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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31
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Carvalho TG, Morahan B, John von Freyend S, Boeuf P, Grau G, Garcia-Bustos J, Doerig C. The ins and outs of phosphosignalling in Plasmodium: Parasite regulation and host cell manipulation. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 208:2-15. [PMID: 27211241 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Signal transduction and kinomics have been rapidly expanding areas of investigation within the malaria research field. Here, we provide an overview of phosphosignalling pathways that operate in all stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. We review signalling pathways in the parasite itself, in the cells it invades, and in other cells of the vertebrate host with which it interacts. We also discuss the potential of these pathways as novel targets for antimalarial intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Gil Carvalho
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Belinda Morahan
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Simona John von Freyend
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Philippe Boeuf
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Georges Grau
- Vascular Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Jose Garcia-Bustos
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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32
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Crowther GJ, Hillesland HK, Keyloun KR, Reid MC, Lafuente-Monasterio MJ, Ghidelli-Disse S, Leonard SE, He P, Jones JC, Krahn MM, Mo JS, Dasari KS, Fox AMW, Boesche M, El Bakkouri M, Rivas KL, Leroy D, Hui R, Drewes G, Maly DJ, Van Voorhis WC, Ojo KK. Biochemical Screening of Five Protein Kinases from Plasmodium falciparum against 14,000 Cell-Active Compounds. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149996. [PMID: 26934697 PMCID: PMC4774911 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2010 the identities of thousands of anti-Plasmodium compounds were released publicly to facilitate malaria drug development. Understanding these compounds' mechanisms of action--i.e., the specific molecular targets by which they kill the parasite--would further facilitate the drug development process. Given that kinases are promising anti-malaria targets, we screened ~14,000 cell-active compounds for activity against five different protein kinases. Collections of cell-active compounds from GlaxoSmithKline (the ~13,000-compound Tres Cantos Antimalarial Set, or TCAMS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (260 compounds), and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (the 400-compound Malaria Box) were screened in biochemical assays of Plasmodium falciparum calcium-dependent protein kinases 1 and 4 (CDPK1 and CDPK4), mitogen-associated protein kinase 2 (MAPK2/MAP2), protein kinase 6 (PK6), and protein kinase 7 (PK7). Novel potent inhibitors (IC50 < 1 μM) were discovered for three of the kinases: CDPK1, CDPK4, and PK6. The PK6 inhibitors are the most potent yet discovered for this enzyme and deserve further scrutiny. Additionally, kinome-wide competition assays revealed a compound that inhibits CDPK4 with few effects on ~150 human kinases, and several related compounds that inhibit CDPK1 and CDPK4 yet have limited cytotoxicity to human (HepG2) cells. Our data suggest that inhibiting multiple Plasmodium kinase targets without harming human cells is challenging but feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J. Crowther
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Heidi K. Hillesland
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Katelyn R. Keyloun
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Molly C. Reid
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Sonja Ghidelli-Disse
- Cellzome GmbH, Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephen E. Leonard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Panqing He
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jackson C. Jones
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Mallory M. Krahn
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jack S. Mo
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kartheek S. Dasari
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Anna M. W. Fox
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Markus Boesche
- Cellzome GmbH, Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Majida El Bakkouri
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kasey L. Rivas
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Didier Leroy
- Drug Discovery, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raymond Hui
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gerard Drewes
- Cellzome GmbH, Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dustin J. Maly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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33
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Dorin-Semblat D, Demarta-Gatsi C, Hamelin R, Armand F, Carvalho TG, Moniatte M, Doerig C. Malaria Parasite-Infected Erythrocytes Secrete PfCK1, the Plasmodium Homologue of the Pleiotropic Protein Kinase Casein Kinase 1. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139591. [PMID: 26629826 PMCID: PMC4668060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Casein kinase 1 (CK1) is a pleiotropic protein kinase implicated in several fundamental processes of eukaryotic cell biology. Plasmodium falciparum encodes a single CK1 isoform, PfCK1, that is expressed at all stages of the parasite’s life cycle. We have previously shown that the pfck1 gene cannot be disrupted, but that the locus can be modified if no loss-of-function is incurred, suggesting an important role for this kinase in intra-erythrocytic asexual proliferation. Here, we report on the use of parasite lines expressing GFP- or His-tagged PfCK1 from the endogenous locus to investigate (i) the dynamics of PfCK1 localisation during the asexual cycle in red blood cells, and (ii) potential interactors of PfCK1, so as to gain insight into the involvement of the enzyme in specific cellular processes. Immunofluorescence analysis reveals a dynamic localisation of PfCK1, with evidence for a pool of the enzyme being directed to the membrane of the host erythrocyte in the early stages of infection, followed by a predominantly intra-parasite localisation in trophozoites and schizonts and association with micronemes in merozoites. Furthermore, we present strong evidence that a pool of enzymatically active PfCK1 is secreted into the culture supernatant, demonstrating that PfCK1 is an ectokinase. Our interactome experiments and ensuing kinase assays using recombinant PfCK1 to phosphorylate putative interactors in vitro suggest an involvement of PfCK1 in many cellular processes such as mRNA splicing, protein trafficking, ribosomal, and host cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Dorin-Semblat
- UMR S1134, Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine, 6 Rue Alexandre Cabanel, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Claudia Demarta-Gatsi
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasites, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris F-75015, France
| | - Romain Hamelin
- Proteomics Core Facility, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florence Armand
- Proteomics Core Facility, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Teresa Gil Carvalho
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia, 3800
| | - Marc Moniatte
- Proteomics Core Facility, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Doerig
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia, 3800
- * E-mail:
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34
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Deshmukh AS, Agarwal M, Mehra P, Gupta A, Gupta N, Doerig CD, Dhar SK. Regulation of Plasmodium falciparum Origin Recognition Complex subunit 1 (PfORC1) function through phosphorylation mediated by CDK-like kinase PK5. Mol Microbiol 2015; 98:17-33. [PMID: 26094711 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum Origin Recognition Complex subunit 1 (PfORC1) has been implicated in DNA replication and var gene regulation. While the C-terminus is involved in DNA replication, the specific role of N-terminus has been suggested in var gene regulation in a Sir2-dependent manner. PfORC1 is localized at the nuclear periphery, where the clustering of chromosomal ends at the early stage of parasite development may be crucial for the regulation of subtelomeric var gene expression. Upon disassembly of telomeric clusters at later stages of parasite development, ORC1 is distributed in the nucleus and parasite cytoplasm where it may be required for its other cellular functions including DNA replication. The level of ORC1 decreases dramatically at the late schizont stage. The mechanisms that mediate regulation of PfORC1 function are largely unknown. Here we show, by the use of recombinant proteins and of transgenic parasites expressing wild type or mutant forms of ORC1, that phosphorylation of the PfORC1-N terminal domain by the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) PfPK5 abolishes DNA-binding activity and leads to changes in subcellular localization and proteasome-mediated degradation of the protein in schizonts. These results reveal that PfORC1 phosphorylation by a CDK is central to the regulation of important biological functions like DNA replication and var gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit S Deshmukh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.,National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Meetu Agarwal
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Parul Mehra
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashish Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Nidhi Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Christian D Doerig
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biomedical sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Suman Kumar Dhar
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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35
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Kumar P, Tripathi A, Ranjan R, Halbert J, Gilberger T, Doerig C, Sharma P. Regulation of Plasmodium falciparum development by calcium-dependent protein kinase 7 (PfCDPK7). J Biol Chem 2014; 289:20386-95. [PMID: 24895132 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.561670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Second messengers such as phosphoinositides and calcium are known to control diverse processes involved in the development of malaria parasites. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways need to be unraveled, which may be achieved by understanding the regulation of effectors of these second messengers. Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) family members regulate diverse parasitic processes. Because CDPKs are absent from the host, these kinases are considered as potential drug targets. We have dissected the function of an atypical CDPK from Plasmodium falciparum, PfCDPK7. The domain architecture of PfCDPK7 is very different from that of other CDPKs; it has a pleckstrin homology domain adjacent to the kinase domain and two calcium-binding EF-hands at its N terminus. We demonstrate that PfCDPK7 interacts with PI(4,5)P2 via its pleckstrin homology domain, which may guide its subcellular localization. Disruption of PfCDPK7 caused a marked reduction in the growth of the blood stage parasites, as maturation of rings to trophozoites was markedly stalled. In addition, parasite proliferation was significantly attenuated. These findings shed light on an important role for PfCDPK7 in the erythrocytic asexual cycle of malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Kumar
- From the Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anuj Tripathi
- From the Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Ravikant Ranjan
- From the Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Jean Halbert
- the Inserm-EPFL Joint Laboratory, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tim Gilberger
- the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada, the Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany, and
| | - Christian Doerig
- the Inserm-EPFL Joint Laboratory, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland, the Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Pushkar Sharma
- From the Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi 110067, India,
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36
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Glushakova S, Balaban A, McQueen PG, Coutinho R, Miller JL, Nossal R, Fairhurst RM, Zimmerberg J. Hemoglobinopathic erythrocytes affect the intraerythrocytic multiplication of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. J Infect Dis 2014; 210:1100-9. [PMID: 24688070 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mechanisms by which α-thalassemia and sickle cell traits confer protection from severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria are not yet fully elucidated. We hypothesized that hemoglobinopathic erythrocytes reduce the intraerythrocytic multiplication of P. falciparum, potentially delaying the development of life-threatening parasite densities until parasite clearing immunity is achieved. METHODS We developed a novel in vitro assay to quantify the number of merozoites released from an individual schizont, termed the "intraerythrocytic multiplication factor" (IMF). RESULTS P. falciparum (3D7 line) schizonts produce variable numbers of merozoites in all erythrocyte types tested, with median IMFs of 27, 27, 29, 23, and 23 in control, HbAS, HbSS, and α- and β-thalassemia trait erythrocytes, respectively. IMF correlated strongly (r(2) = 0.97; P < .001) with mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and varied significantly with mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin content. Reduction of IMFs in thalassemia trait erythrocytes was confirmed using clinical parasite isolates with different IMFs. Mathematical modeling of the effect of IMF on malaria progression indicates that the lower IMF in thalassemia trait erythrocytes limits parasite density and anemia severity over the first 2 weeks of parasite replication. CONCLUSIONS P. falciparum IMF, a parasite heritable virulence trait, correlates with erythrocyte indices and is reduced in thalassemia trait erythrocytes. Parasite IMF should be examined in other low-indices erythrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Glushakova
- Program in Physical Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Amanda Balaban
- Program in Physical Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Philip G McQueen
- Mathematical and Statistical Computing Laboratory, Division of Computational Bioscience, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health
| | - Rosane Coutinho
- Laboratory of Cellular Imaging and Macromolecular Biophysics, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health
| | - Jeffery L Miller
- Molecular Medicine Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health
| | - Ralph Nossal
- Program in Physical Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Rick M Fairhurst
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Joshua Zimmerberg
- Program in Physical Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health
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37
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Morahan B, Garcia-Bustos J. Kinase signalling in Plasmodium sexual stages and interventions to stop malaria transmission. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 193:23-32. [PMID: 24509402 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The symptoms of malaria, one of the infectious diseases with the highest mortality and morbidity world-wide, are caused by asexual parasites replicating inside red blood cells. Disease transmission, however, is effected by non-replicating cells which have differentiated into male or female gametocytes. These are the forms infectious to mosquito vectors and the insects are the only hosts where parasite sexual reproduction can take place. Malaria is thus a complex infection in which pharmacological treatment of symptoms may still allow transmission for long periods, while pharmacological blockage of infectivity may not cure symptoms. The process of parasite sexual differentiation and development is still being revealed but it is clear that kinase-mediated signalling mechanisms play a significant role. This review attempts to summarise our limited current knowledge on the signalling mechanisms involved in the transition from asexual replication to sexual differentiation and reproduction, with a brief mention to the effects of current treatments on the sexual stages and to some of the difficulties inherent in developing pharmacological interventions to curtail disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Morahan
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Jose Garcia-Bustos
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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Ariey F, Witkowski B, Amaratunga C, Beghain J, Langlois AC, Khim N, Kim S, Duru V, Bouchier C, Ma L, Lim P, Leang R, Duong S, Sreng S, Suon S, Chuor CM, Bout DM, Ménard S, Rogers WO, Genton B, Fandeur T, Miotto O, Ringwald P, Le Bras J, Berry A, Barale JC, Fairhurst RM, Benoit-Vical F, Mercereau-Puijalon O, Ménard D. A molecular marker of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Nature 2014; 505:50-5. [PMID: 24352242 PMCID: PMC5007947 DOI: 10.1038/nature12876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1419] [Impact Index Per Article: 141.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin derivatives in southeast Asia threatens malaria control and elimination activities worldwide. To monitor the spread of artemisinin resistance, a molecular marker is urgently needed. Here, using whole-genome sequencing of an artemisinin-resistant parasite line from Africa and clinical parasite isolates from Cambodia, we associate mutations in the PF3D7_1343700 kelch propeller domain ('K13-propeller') with artemisinin resistance in vitro and in vivo. Mutant K13-propeller alleles cluster in Cambodian provinces where resistance is prevalent, and the increasing frequency of a dominant mutant K13-propeller allele correlates with the recent spread of resistance in western Cambodia. Strong correlations between the presence of a mutant allele, in vitro parasite survival rates and in vivo parasite clearance rates indicate that K13-propeller mutations are important determinants of artemisinin resistance. K13-propeller polymorphism constitutes a useful molecular marker for large-scale surveillance efforts to contain artemisinin resistance in the Greater Mekong Subregion and prevent its global spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Ariey
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Parasite Molecular Immunology Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 2581, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [3] Institut Pasteur, Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (F.A.); Institut Pasteur, Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.B.); Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR1043, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5282, Université Toulouse III, 31024 Toulouse Cedex 3, France Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Team Malaria Targets and Drug Development, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.-C.B.)
| | - Benoit Witkowski
- Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Chanaki Amaratunga
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Johann Beghain
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Parasite Molecular Immunology Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 2581, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [3] Institut Pasteur, Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (F.A.); Institut Pasteur, Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.B.); Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR1043, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5282, Université Toulouse III, 31024 Toulouse Cedex 3, France Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Team Malaria Targets and Drug Development, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.-C.B.)
| | - Anne-Claire Langlois
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Parasite Molecular Immunology Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 2581, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Nimol Khim
- Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Saorin Kim
- Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Valentine Duru
- Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Christiane Bouchier
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Génomique, Département Génomes et Génétique, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Laurence Ma
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme Génomique, Département Génomes et Génétique, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Pharath Lim
- 1] Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia [2] Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA [3] National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Rithea Leang
- National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Socheat Duong
- National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sokunthea Sreng
- National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Seila Suon
- National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Char Meng Chuor
- National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Denis Mey Bout
- SSA WHO, Drug Monitoring in Cambodia, National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sandie Ménard
- 1] Service de Parasitologie et Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France [2] Institut Pasteur, Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (F.A.); Institut Pasteur, Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.B.); Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR1043, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5282, Université Toulouse III, 31024 Toulouse Cedex 3, France Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Team Malaria Targets and Drug Development, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.-C.B.)
| | | | - Blaise Genton
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Fandeur
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Parasite Molecular Immunology Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [2] Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Olivo Miotto
- 1] MRC Centre for Genomics and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK [2] Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand [3] Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Pascal Ringwald
- Global Malaria Program, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jacques Le Bras
- Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, CHU Bichat-Claude Bernard, APHP, PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Antoine Berry
- 1] Service de Parasitologie et Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France [2] Institut Pasteur, Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (F.A.); Institut Pasteur, Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.B.); Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR1043, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5282, Université Toulouse III, 31024 Toulouse Cedex 3, France Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Team Malaria Targets and Drug Development, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.-C.B.)
| | - Jean-Christophe Barale
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Parasite Molecular Immunology Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 2581, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [3] Institut Pasteur, Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (F.A.); Institut Pasteur, Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.B.); Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR1043, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5282, Université Toulouse III, 31024 Toulouse Cedex 3, France Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Team Malaria Targets and Drug Development, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (J.-C.B.)
| | - Rick M Fairhurst
- 1] Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA [2]
| | - Françoise Benoit-Vical
- 1] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination UPR8241, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France [2] Université de Toulouse, UPS, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France [3]
| | - Odile Mercereau-Puijalon
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Parasite Molecular Immunology Unit, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [2] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 2581, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France [3]
| | - Didier Ménard
- 1] Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia [2]
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Abstract
There is an urgent need for the development of new antimalarial drugs with novel modes of actions. The malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has a relatively small kinome of <100 kinases, with many members exhibiting a high degree of structural divergence from their host counterparts. A number of Plasmodium kinases have recently been shown by reverse genetics to be essential for various parts of the complex parasitic life cycle, and are thus genetically validated as potential targets. Implementation of mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics approaches has informed on key phospho-signalling pathways in the parasite. In addition, global phenotypic screens have revealed a large number of putative protein kinase inhibitors with antimalarial potency. Taken together, these investigations point to the Plasmodium kinome as a rich source of potential new targets. In this review, we highlight recent progress made towards this goal.
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40
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Abstract
Malaria, the disease caused by infection with protozoan parasites from the genus Plasmodium, claims the lives of nearly 1 million people annually. Developing nations, particularly in the African Region, bear the brunt of this malaria burden. Alarmingly, the most dangerous etiologic agent of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, is becoming increasingly resistant to current first-line antimalarials. In light of the widespread devastation caused by malaria, the emergence of drug-resistant P. falciparum strains, and the projected decrease in funding for malaria eradication that may occur over the next decade, the identification of promising new targets for antimalarial drug design is imperative. P. falciparum kinases have been proposed as ideal drug targets for antimalarial drug design because they mediate critical cellular processes within the parasite and are, in many cases, structurally and mechanistically divergent when compared with kinases from humans. Identifying a molecule capable of inhibiting the activity of a target enzyme is generally an arduous and expensive process that can be greatly aided by utilizing in silico drug design techniques. Such methods have been extensively applied to human kinases, but as yet have not been fully exploited for the exploration and characterization of antimalarial kinase targets. This review focuses on in silico methods that have been used for the evaluation of potential antimalarials and the Plasmodium kinases that could be explored using these techniques.
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41
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Talevich E, Tobin AB, Kannan N, Doerig C. An evolutionary perspective on the kinome of malaria parasites. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012; 367:2607-18. [PMID: 22889911 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites belong to an ancient lineage that diverged very early from the main branch of eukaryotes. The approximately 90-member plasmodial kinome includes a majority of eukaryotic protein kinases that clearly cluster within the AGC, CMGC, TKL, CaMK and CK1 groups found in yeast, plants and mammals, testifying to the ancient ancestry of these families. However, several hundred millions years of independent evolution, and the specific pressures brought about by first a photosynthetic and then a parasitic lifestyle, led to the emergence of unique features in the plasmodial kinome. These include taxon-restricted kinase families, and unique peculiarities of individual enzymes even when they have homologues in other eukaryotes. Here, we merge essential aspects of all three malaria-related communications that were presented at the Evolution of Protein Phosphorylation meeting, and propose an integrated discussion of the specific features of the parasite's kinome and phosphoproteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Talevich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, 120 Green Street, Athens, GA 30602-7229, USA
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42
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Koyama FC, Ribeiro RY, Garcia JL, Azevedo MF, Chakrabarti D, Garcia CRS. Ubiquitin proteasome system and the atypical kinase PfPK7 are involved in melatonin signaling in Plasmodium falciparum. J Pineal Res 2012; 53:147-53. [PMID: 22348509 PMCID: PMC3360131 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2012.00981.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that melatonin modulates the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic cycle by increasing schizont stage population as well as diminishing ring stage population. In addition, the importance of calcium and cAMP in melatonin signaling pathway in P. falciparum was also demonstrated. Nevertheless, the molecular effectors of the indoleamine signaling pathway remain elusive. We now demonstrate by real-time PCR that melatonin treatment up-regulates genes related to ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS) components and that luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, inhibits UPS transcription modulation. We also show that protein kinase PfPK7, a P. falciparum orphan kinase, plays a crucial role in the melatonin transduction pathway, since following melatonin treatment of P. falciparum parasites where pfpk7 gene is disrupted (pfpk7(-) parasites) (i) the ratio of asexual stages remain unchanged, (ii) the increase in cytoplasmatic calcium in response to melatonin was strongly diminished and (iii) up-regulation of UPS genes did not occur. The wild-type melatonin-induced alterations in cell cycle features, calcium rise and UPS gene transcription were restored by re-introduction of a functional copy of the pfpk7 gene in the pfpk7(-) parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda C Koyama
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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43
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Insights into the Plasmodium falciparum schizont phospho-proteome. Microbes Infect 2012; 14:811-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2012.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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44
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Dorin-Semblat D, Bottrill AR, Solyakov L, Tobin A, Doerig C. Experimental tools for the study of protein phosphorylation in Plasmodium. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 923:241-57. [PMID: 22990782 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-026-7_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The central role played by protein phosphorylation in the regulation of eukaryotic cellular processes calls for detailed investigations of this phenomenon in malaria parasites. Here, we describe protocols to measure the activity of protein kinases (using either recombinant proteins or native enzymes purified from parasite extracts), and outline procedures to identify phosphorylation sites on parasite proteins following a mass spectrometry approach.
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45
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Abstract
Glutathione (γ-glutamylcysteinyl-glycine, GSH) has vital functions as thiol redox buffer and cofactor of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. Plasmodium falciparum possesses a functional GSH biosynthesis pathway and contains mM concentrations of the tripeptide. It was impossible to delete in P. falciparum the genes encoding γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γGCS) or glutathione synthetase (GS), the two enzymes synthesizing GSH, although both gene loci were not refractory to recombination. Our data show that the parasites cannot compensate for the loss of GSH biosynthesis via GSH uptake. This suggests an important if not essential function of GSH biosynthesis pathway for the parasites. Treatment with the irreversible inhibitor of γGCS L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) reduced intracellular GSH levels in P. falciparum and was lethal for their intra-erythrocytic development, corroborating the suggestion that GSH biosynthesis is important for parasite survival. Episomal expression of γgcs in P. falciparum increased tolerance to BSO attributable to increased levels of γGCS. Concomitantly expression of glutathione reductase was reduced leading to an increased GSH efflux. Together these data indicate that GSH levels are tightly regulated by a functional GSH biosynthesis and the reduction of GSSG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Patzewitz
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
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46
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Global kinomic and phospho-proteomic analyses of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Commun 2011; 2:565. [PMID: 22127061 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2011] [Accepted: 10/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of protein phosphorylation in the life cycle of malaria parasites is slowly emerging. Here we combine global phospho-proteomic analysis with kinome-wide reverse genetics to assess the importance of protein phosphorylation in Plasmodium falciparum asexual proliferation. We identify 1177 phosphorylation sites on 650 parasite proteins that are involved in a wide range of general cellular activities such as DNA synthesis, transcription and metabolism as well as key parasite processes such as invasion and cyto-adherence. Several parasite protein kinases are themselves phosphorylated on putative regulatory residues, including tyrosines in the activation loop of PfGSK3 and PfCLK3; we show that phosphorylation of PfCLK3 Y526 is essential for full kinase activity. A kinome-wide reverse genetics strategy identified 36 parasite kinases as likely essential for erythrocytic schizogony. These studies not only reveal processes that are regulated by protein phosphorylation, but also define potential anti-malarial drug targets within the parasite kinome.
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47
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Structural and evolutionary divergence of eukaryotic protein kinases in Apicomplexa. BMC Evol Biol 2011; 11:321. [PMID: 22047078 PMCID: PMC3239843 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Apicomplexa constitute an evolutionarily divergent phylum of protozoan pathogens responsible for widespread parasitic diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis. Many cellular functions in these medically important organisms are controlled by protein kinases, which have emerged as promising drug targets for parasitic diseases. However, an incomplete understanding of how apicomplexan kinases structurally and mechanistically differ from their host counterparts has hindered drug development efforts to target parasite kinases. Results We used the wealth of sequence data recently made available for 15 apicomplexan species to identify the kinome of each species and quantify the evolutionary constraints imposed on each family of apicomplexan kinases. Our analysis revealed lineage-specific adaptations in selected families, namely cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and CLK/LAMMER, which have been identified as important in the pathogenesis of these organisms. Bayesian analysis of selective constraints imposed on these families identified the sequence and structural features that most distinguish apicomplexan protein kinases from their homologs in model organisms and other eukaryotes. In particular, in a subfamily of CDKs orthologous to Plasmodium falciparum crk-5, the activation loop contains a novel PTxC motif which is absent from all CDKs outside Apicomplexa. Our analysis also suggests a convergent mode of regulation in a subset of apicomplexan CDPKs and mammalian MAPKs involving a commonly conserved arginine in the αC helix. In all recognized apicomplexan CLKs, we find a set of co-conserved residues involved in substrate recognition and docking that are distinct from metazoan CLKs. Conclusions We pinpoint key conserved residues that can be predicted to mediate functional differences from eukaryotic homologs in three identified kinase families. We discuss the structural, functional and evolutionary implications of these lineage-specific variations and propose specific hypotheses for experimental investigation. The apicomplexan-specific kinase features reported in this study can be used in the design of selective kinase inhibitors.
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48
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Agarwal S, Kern S, Halbert J, Przyborski JM, Baumeister S, Dandekar T, Doerig C, Pradel G. Two nucleus-localized CDK-like kinases with crucial roles for malaria parasite erythrocytic replication are involved in phosphorylation of splicing factor. J Cell Biochem 2011; 112:1295-310. [PMID: 21312235 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.23034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The kinome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum comprises representatives of most eukaryotic protein kinase groups, including kinases which regulate proliferation and differentiation processes. Despite extensive research on most plasmodial enzymes, little information is available regarding the four identified members of the cyclin-dependent kinase-like kinase (CLK) family. In other eukaryotes, CLKs regulate mRNA splicing through phosphorylation of Serine/Arginine-rich proteins. Here, we investigate two of the PfCLKs, the Lammer kinase homolog PfCLK-1, and PfCLK-2. Both PfCLKs show homology with the yeast Serine/Arginine protein kinase Sky1p and are transcribed throughout the asexual blood stages and in gametocytes. PfCLK-1/Lammer possesses two nuclear localization signal sites and PfCLK-2 possesses one of these signal sites upstream of the C-terminal catalytic domains. Indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot, and electron microscopy data confirm that the kinases are primarily localized in the parasite nucleus, and PfCLK-2 is further present in the cytoplasm. The two kinases are important for completion of the asexual replication cycle of P. falciparum, as demonstrated by reverse genetics approaches. In vitro kinase assays show substrate phosphorylation by the PfCLKs, including the Sky1p substrate, splicing factor Npl3p, and the plasmodial alternative splicing factor PfASF-1. Mass spectrometric analysis of co-immunoprecipitated proteins indicates assembly of the two PfCLKs with proteins with predicted nuclease, phosphatase, or helicase functions. Our data indicate a crucial role of PfCLKs for malaria blood stage parasites, presumably by participating in gene regulation through the post-transcriptional modification of mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Agarwal
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, Building D15, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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49
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Dorin-Semblat D, Schmitt S, Semblat JP, Sicard A, Reininger L, Goldring D, Patterson S, Quashie N, Chakrabarti D, Meijer L, Doerig C. Plasmodium falciparum NIMA-related kinase Pfnek-1: sex specificity and assessment of essentiality for the erythrocytic asexual cycle. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2011; 157:2785-2794. [PMID: 21757488 PMCID: PMC3353393 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.049023-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum kinome includes a family of four protein kinases (Pfnek-1 to -4) related to the NIMA (never-in-mitosis) family, members of which play important roles in mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotic cells. Only one of these, Pfnek-1, which we previously characterized at the biochemical level, is expressed in asexual parasites. The other three (Pfnek-2, -3 and -4) are expressed predominantly in gametocytes, and a role for nek-2 and nek-4 in meiosis has been documented. Here we show by reverse genetics that Pfnek-1 is required for completion of the asexual cycle in red blood cells and that its expression in gametocytes in detectable by immunofluorescence in male (but not in female) gametocytes, in contrast with Pfnek-2 and Pfnek-4. This indicates that the function of Pfnek-1 is non-redundant with those of the other members of the Pfnek family and identifies Pfnek-1 as a potential target for antimalarial chemotherapy. A medium-throughput screen of a small-molecule library provides proof of concept that recombinant Pfnek-1 can be used as a target in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Dorin-Semblat
- INSERM U609, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.,INSERM-EPFL Joint Laboratory, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, GHI-SV-EPFL Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Schmitt
- Cell Cycle Group, C.N.R.S., Station Biologique, 29680 Roscoff, Bretagne, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Semblat
- INSERM U609, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.,INSERM-EPFL Joint Laboratory, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, GHI-SV-EPFL Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Audrey Sicard
- INSERM U609, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.,INSERM-EPFL Joint Laboratory, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, GHI-SV-EPFL Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luc Reininger
- INSERM U609, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.,INSERM-EPFL Joint Laboratory, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, GHI-SV-EPFL Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dean Goldring
- Biochemistry, University of Kwazulu-Natal, PB X01 Scottsville, South Africa
| | - Shelley Patterson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, University of Central Florida, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Neils Quashie
- Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Debopam Chakrabarti
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, University of Central Florida, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Laurent Meijer
- Cell Cycle Group, C.N.R.S., Station Biologique, 29680 Roscoff, Bretagne, France
| | - Christian Doerig
- INSERM U609, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.,INSERM-EPFL Joint Laboratory, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, GHI-SV-EPFL Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Grimberg BT, Mehlotra RK. Expanding the Antimalarial Drug Arsenal-Now, But How? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2011; 4:681-712. [PMID: 21625331 PMCID: PMC3102560 DOI: 10.3390/ph4050681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2011] [Revised: 04/09/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2011] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of available and effective antimalarial drugs is quickly dwindling. This is mainly because a number of drug resistance-associated mutations in malaria parasite genes, such as crt, mdr1, dhfr/dhps, and others, have led to widespread resistance to all known classes of antimalarial compounds. Unfortunately, malaria parasites have started to exhibit some level of resistance in Southeast Asia even to the most recently introduced class of drugs, artemisinins. While there is much need, the antimalarial drug development pipeline remains woefully thin, with little chemical diversity, and there is currently no alternative to the precious artemisinins. It is difficult to predict where the next generation of antimalarial drugs will come from; however, there are six major approaches: (i) re-optimizing the use of existing antimalarials by either replacement/rotation or combination approach; (ii) repurposing drugs that are currently used to treat other infections or diseases; (iii) chemically modifying existing antimalarial compounds; (iv) exploring natural sources; (v) large-scale screening of diverse chemical libraries; and (vi) through parasite genome-based ("targeted") discoveries. When any newly discovered effective antimalarial treatment is used by the populus, we must maintain constant vigilance for both parasite-specific and human-related factors that are likely to hamper its success. This article is neither comprehensive nor conclusive. Our purpose is to provide an overview of antimalarial drug resistance, associated parasite genetic factors (1. Introduction; 2. Emergence of artemisinin resistance in P. falciparum), and the antimalarial drug development pipeline (3. Overview of the global pipeline of antimalarial drugs), and highlight some examples of the aforementioned approaches to future antimalarial treatment. These approaches can be categorized into "short term" (4. Feasible options for now) and "long term" (5. Next generation of antimalarial treatment-Approaches and candidates). However, these two categories are interrelated, and the approaches in both should be implemented in parallel with focus on developing a successful, long-lasting antimalarial chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian T. Grimberg
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; E-Mails: (B.T.G.); (R.K.M.); Tel.: +1-216-368-6328 or +1-216-368-6172, Fax: +1-216-368-4825
| | - Rajeev K. Mehlotra
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; E-Mails: (B.T.G.); (R.K.M.); Tel.: +1-216-368-6328 or +1-216-368-6172, Fax: +1-216-368-4825
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