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Sun W, Jiang N, Li Q, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Chen R, Feng Y, Sang X, Long S, Chen Q. Calcium-binding protein TgpCaBP regulates calcium storage of the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0066124. [PMID: 39162521 PMCID: PMC11448132 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00661-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, the causative parasite of toxoplasmosis, is an apicomplexan parasite that infects warm-blooded mammals. The ability of the calcium-binding proteins (CBPs) to transport large amounts of Ca2+ appears to be critical for the biological activity of T. gondii. However, the functions of some members of the CBP family have not yet been deciphered. Here, we characterized a putative CBP of T. gondii, TgpCaBP (TGME49_229480), which is composed of four EF-hand motifs with Ca2+-binding capability. TgpCaBP was localized in the cytosol and ER of T. gondii, and parasites lacking the TgpCaBP gene exhibited diminished abilities in cell invasion, intracellular growth, egress, and motility. These phenomena were due to the abnormalities in intracellular Ca2+ efflux and ER Ca2+ storage, and the reduction in motility was associated with a decrease in the discharge of secretory proteins. Therefore, we propose that TgpCaBP is a Ca2+ transporter and signaling molecule involved in Ca2+ regulation and parasitization in the hosts.IMPORTANCECa2+ signaling is essential in the development of T. gondii. In this study, we identified a calcium-binding protein in T. gondii, named TgpCaBP, which actively regulates intracellular Ca2+ levels in the parasite. Deletion of the gene coding for TgpCaBP caused serious deficits in the parasite's ability to maintain a stable intracellular calcium environment, which also impaired the secretory protein discharged from the parasite, and its capacity of gliding motility, cell invasion, intracellular growth, and egress from host cells. In summary, we have identified a novel calcium-binding protein, TgpCaBP, in the zoonotic parasite T. gondii, which is a potential therapeutic target for toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weisong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Qilong Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Yize Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Yiwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Shaojun Long
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, and Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
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Wang D, Shi Y, Cheng Z, Luo L, Cheng K, Gan S, Liu C, Chen Z, Yang B. A Toxoplasma gondii thioredoxin with cell adhesion and antioxidant function. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1404120. [PMID: 39211799 PMCID: PMC11358088 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1404120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a widespread, zoonotic protozoan intracellular parasite with a complex life cycle, which can cause toxoplasmosis, a potentially serious disease. During the invasion process, T. gondii proteins first bind to the relevant host cell receptors, such as glycosaminoglycan molecule (GAG-binding motif), which is one of the main receptors for parasites or virus to infect host cells. However, research on TGME49_216510 (T. gondii Trx21), a protein from Toxoplasma gondii, is limited. Methods Bioinformatics analysis of the Trx21 protein was performed firstly. And specific primers were then designed using the conserved domain and GAG-binding motif to amplify, express, and purify a fragment of the Trx21 protein. The purified Trx21-GST protein was used for antioxidant and cell adhesion experiments. Simultaneously, mice were immunized with Trx21-His to generate specific polyclonal antibodies for subcellular localization analysis. Results The Trx21 protein, consisting of 774 amino acids, included a transmembrane region, three GAG-binding motifs, and a Thioredoxin-like domain. The recombinant Trx21-His protein had a molecular mass of about 31 kDa, while the Trx21-GST protein had a molecular mass of about 55 kDa, which was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Subcellular localization analysis by IFA revealed that Trx21 is predominantly distributed in the cytoplasm of T. gondii. Furthermore, Trx21 exhibited a protective effect on supercoiled DNA against metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) and demonstrated adhesion abilities to Vero cells. Conclusions These results indicate that Trx21 plays an important role in host cell interaction and oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Wang
- College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuyi Shi
- College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Ziwen Cheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Like Luo
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Kuo Cheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Shengqi Gan
- College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Che Liu
- College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Zeliang Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Baoling Yang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
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Tebben K, Yirampo S, Coulibaly D, Koné AK, Laurens MB, Stucke EM, Dembélé A, Tolo Y, Traoré K, Niangaly A, Berry AA, Kouriba B, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, Lyke KE, Takala-Harrison S, Thera MA, Travassos MA, Serre D. Gene expression analyses reveal differences in children's response to malaria according to their age. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2021. [PMID: 38448421 PMCID: PMC10918175 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46416-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In Bandiagara, Mali, children experience on average two clinical malaria episodes per year. However, even in the same transmission area, the number of uncomplicated symptomatic infections, and their parasitemia, can vary dramatically among children. We simultaneously characterize host and parasite gene expression profiles from 136 Malian children with symptomatic falciparum malaria and examine differences in the relative proportion of immune cells and parasite stages, as well as in gene expression, associated with infection and or patient characteristics. Parasitemia explains much of the variation in host and parasite gene expression, and infections with higher parasitemia display proportionally more neutrophils and fewer T cells, suggesting parasitemia-dependent neutrophil recruitment and/or T cell extravasation to secondary lymphoid organs. The child's age also strongly correlates with variations in gene expression: Plasmodium falciparum genes associated with age suggest that older children carry more male gametocytes, while variations in host gene expression indicate a stronger innate response in younger children and stronger adaptive response in older children. These analyses highlight the variability in host responses and parasite regulation during P. falciparum symptomatic infections and emphasize the importance of considering the children's age when studying and treating malaria infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Tebben
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Salif Yirampo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Drissa Coulibaly
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Abdoulaye K Koné
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Matthew B Laurens
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily M Stucke
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ahmadou Dembélé
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Youssouf Tolo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Karim Traoré
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Amadou Niangaly
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Andrea A Berry
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bourema Kouriba
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Christopher V Plowe
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ogobara K Doumbo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Kirsten E Lyke
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shannon Takala-Harrison
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mahamadou A Thera
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mark A Travassos
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David Serre
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Pawłowska M, Mila-Kierzenkowska C, Szczegielniak J, Woźniak A. Oxidative Stress in Parasitic Diseases-Reactive Oxygen Species as Mediators of Interactions between the Host and the Parasites. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 13:38. [PMID: 38247462 PMCID: PMC10812656 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the development and course of parasitic infections, both in the attacked host organism and the parasite organism struggling to survive. The host uses large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mainly superoxide anion (O2•-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), to fight the developing parasitic disease. On the other hand, the parasite develops the most effective defense mechanisms and resistance to the effects of ROS and strives to survive in the host organism it has colonized, using the resources and living environment available for its development and causing the host's weakening. The paper reviews the literature on the role of oxidative stress in parasitic diseases, which are the most critical epidemiological problem worldwide. The most common parasitosis in the world is malaria, with 300-500 million new cases and about 1 million deaths reported annually. In Europe and Poland, the essential problem is intestinal parasites. Due to a parasitic infection, the concentration of antioxidants in the host decreases, and the concentration of products of cellular components oxidation increases. In response to the increased number of reactive oxygen species attacking it, the parasites have developed effective defense mechanisms, including primarily the action of antioxidant enzymes, especially superoxide dismutase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH)-dependent complexes glutathione and thioredoxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pawłowska
- Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (C.M.-K.); (A.W.)
| | - Celestyna Mila-Kierzenkowska
- Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (C.M.-K.); (A.W.)
| | - Jan Szczegielniak
- Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, 45-758 Opole, Poland;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration’s Specialist Hospital of St. John Paul II, 48-340 Glucholazy, Poland
| | - Alina Woźniak
- Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (C.M.-K.); (A.W.)
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Yin D, Jiang N, Cheng C, Sang X, Feng Y, Chen R, Chen Q. Protein Lactylation and Metabolic Regulation of the Zoonotic Parasite Toxoplasma gondii. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 21:1163-1181. [PMID: 36216028 PMCID: PMC11082259 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The biology of Toxoplasma gondii, the causative pathogen of one of the most widespread parasitic diseases (toxoplasmosis), remains poorly understood. Lactate, which is derived from glucose metabolism, is not only an energy source in a variety of organisms, including T. gondii, but also a regulatory molecule that participates in gene activation and protein function. Lysine lactylation (Kla) is a type of post-translational modifications (PTMs) that has been recently associated with chromatin remodeling; however, Kla of histone and non-histone proteins has not yet been studied in T. gondii. To examine the prevalence and function of lactylation in T. gondii parasites, we mapped the lactylome of proliferating tachyzoite cells and identified 1964 Kla sites on 955 proteins in the T. gondii RH strain. Lactylated proteins were distributed in multiple subcellular compartments and were closely related to a wide variety of biological processes, including mRNA splicing, glycolysis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, RNA transport, and many signaling pathways. We also performed a chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis using a lactylation-specific antibody and found that the histones H4K12la and H3K14la were enriched in the promoter and exon regions of T. gondii associated with microtubule-based movement and cell invasion. We further confirmed the delactylase activity of histone deacetylases TgHDAC2-4, and found that treatment with anti-histone acetyltransferase (TgMYST-A) antibodies profoundly reduced protein lactylation in T. gondii. This study offers the first dataset of the global lactylation proteome and provides a basis for further dissecting the functional biology of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deqi Yin
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Chang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110166, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang 110866, China.
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Pal C. Redox modulating small molecules having antimalarial efficacy. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115927. [PMID: 37992998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The search for effective antimalarial agents remains a critical priority because malaria is widely spread and drug-resistant strains are becoming more prevalent. In this review, a variety of small molecules capable of modulating redox processes were showcased for their potential as antimalarial agents. The compounds were designed to target the redox balance of Plasmodium parasites, which has a pivotal function in their ability to survive and multiply within the host organism. A thorough screening method was utilized to assess the effectiveness of these compounds against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria-causing parasite. The results revealed that several of the tested compounds exhibited significant effectiveness against malaria, displaying IC50 values at a low micromolar range. Furthermore, these compounds displayed promising selectivity for the parasite, as they exhibited low cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells. Thorough mechanistic studies were undertaken to clarify how the active compounds exert their mode of action. The findings revealed that these compounds disrupted the parasites' redox balance, causing oxidative stress and interfering with essential cellular functions. Additionally, the compounds showed synergistic effects when combined with existing antimalarial drugs, suggesting their potential for combination therapies to combat drug resistance. Overall, this study highlights the potential of redox-modulating small molecules as effective antimalarial agents. The identified compounds demonstrate promising antimalarial activity, and their mechanism of action offers insights into targeting the redox balance of Plasmodium parasites. Further optimization and preclinical studies are warranted to determine their efficacy, safety, and potential for clinical development as novel antimalarial therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Pal
- Department of Chemistry, Gobardanga Hindu College, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal 743273, India.
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Wang D, Yang B. Analysis of codon usage bias of thioredoxin in apicomplexan protozoa. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:431. [PMID: 37990340 PMCID: PMC10664530 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06002-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apicomplexan protozoa are a diverse group of obligate intracellular parasites causing many diseases that affect humans and animals, such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. Apicomplexan protozoa possess unique thioredoxins (Trxs) that have been shown to regulate various cellular processes including metabolic redox regulation, parasite survival, and host immune evasion. However, it is still unknown how synonymous codons are used by apicomplexan protozoa Trxs. METHODS Codon usage bias (CUB) is the unequal usage of synonymous codons during translation which leads to the over- or underrepresentation of certain nucleotide patterns. This imbalance in CUB can impact a variety of cellular processes including protein expression levels and genetic variation. This study analyzed the CUB of 32 Trx coding sequences (CDS) from 11 apicomplexan protozoa. RESULTS The results showed that both codon base composition and relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis revealed that AT-ended codons were more frequently used in Cryptosporidium spp. and Plasmodium spp., while the Eimeria spp., Babesia spp., Hammondia hammondi, Neospora caninum, and Toxoplasma gondii tended to end in G/C. The average effective number of codon (ENC) value of these apicomplexan protozoa is 46.59, which is > 35, indicating a weak codon preference among apicomplexan protozoa Trxs. Furthermore, the correlation analysis among codon base composition (GC1, GC2, GC3, GCs), codon adaptation index (CAI), codon bias index (CBI), frequency of optimal codons (FOP), ENC, general average hydropathicity (GRAVY), aromaticity (AROMO), length of synonymous codons (L_sym), and length of amino acids (L_aa) indicated the influence of base composition and codon usage indices on CUB. Additionally, the neutrality plot analysis, PR2-bias plot analysis, and ENC-GC3 plot analysis further demonstrated that natural selection plays an important role in apicomplexan protozoa Trxs codon bias. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study increased the understanding of codon usage characteristics and genetic evolution of apicomplexan protozoa Trxs, which expanded new ideas for vaccine and drug research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Wang
- Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Baoling Yang
- Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning Province, China.
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8
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Tebben K, Yirampo S, Coulibaly D, Koné A, Laurens M, Stucke E, Dembélé A, Tolo Y, Traoré K, Niangaly A, Berry A, Kouriba B, Plowe C, Doumbo O, Lyke K, Takala-Harrison S, Thera M, Travassos M, Serre D. Gene expression analyses reveal differences in children's response to malaria according to their age. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3487114. [PMID: 37961587 PMCID: PMC10635353 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3487114/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
In Bandiagara, Mali, children experience on average two clinical malaria episodes per season. However, even in the same transmission area, the number of uncomplicated symptomatic infections, and their parasitemia, vary dramatically among children. To examine the factors contributing to these variations, we simultaneously characterized the host and parasite gene expression profiles from 136 children with symptomatic falciparum malaria and analyzed the expression of 9,205 human and 2,484 Plasmodium genes. We used gene expression deconvolution to estimate the relative proportion of immune cells and parasite stages in each sample and to adjust the differential gene expression analyses. Parasitemia explained much of the variation in both host and parasite gene expression and revealed that infections with higher parasitemia had more neutrophils and fewer T cells, suggesting parasitemia-dependent neutrophil recruitment and/or T cell extravasation to secondary lymphoid organs. The child's age was also strongly correlated with gene expression variations. Plasmodium falciparum genes associated with age suggested that older children carried more male gametocytes, while host genes associated with age indicated a stronger innate response (through TLR and NLR signaling) in younger children and stronger adaptive immunity (through TCR and BCR signaling) in older children. These analyses highlight the variability in host responses and parasite regulation during P. falciparum symptomatic infections and emphasize the importance of considering the children's age when studying and treating malaria infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Salif Yirampo
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | - Drissa Coulibaly
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | - Abdoulaye Koné
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | | | | | - Ahmadou Dembélé
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | - Youssouf Tolo
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | - Karim Traoré
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | - Ahmadou Niangaly
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | | | - Bourema Kouriba
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | | | - Ogobara Doumbo
- Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako
| | | | | | - Mahamadou Thera
- Malaria Research and Training Centre-International Center for Excellence in Research (MRTC-ICER)
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Tebben K, Yirampo S, Coulibaly D, Koné AK, Laurens MB, Stucke EM, Dembélé A, Tolo Y, Traoré K, Niangaly A, Berry AA, Kouriba B, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, Lyke KE, Takala-Harrison S, Thera MA, Travassos MA, Serre D. Gene expression analyses reveal differences in children's response to malaria according to their age. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563751. [PMID: 37961701 PMCID: PMC10634788 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
In Bandiagara, Mali, children experience on average two clinical malaria episodes per season. However, even in the same transmission area, the number of uncomplicated symptomatic infections, and their parasitemia, vary dramatically among children. To examine the factors contributing to these variations, we simultaneously characterized the host and parasite gene expression profiles from 136 children with symptomatic falciparum malaria and analyzed the expression of 9,205 human and 2,484 Plasmodium genes. We used gene expression deconvolution to estimate the relative proportion of immune cells and parasite stages in each sample and to adjust the differential gene expression analyses. Parasitemia explained much of the variation in both host and parasite gene expression and revealed that infections with higher parasitemia had more neutrophils and fewer T cells, suggesting parasitemia-dependent neutrophil recruitment and/or T cell extravasation to secondary lymphoid organs. The child's age was also strongly correlated with gene expression variations. Plasmodium falciparum genes associated with age suggested that older children carried more male gametocytes, while host genes associated with age indicated a stronger innate response (through TLR and NLR signaling) in younger children and stronger adaptive immunity (through TCR and BCR signaling) in older children. These analyses highlight the variability in host responses and parasite regulation during P. falciparum symptomatic infections and emphasize the importance of considering the children's age when studying and treating malaria infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Tebben
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Salif Yirampo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Drissa Coulibaly
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Abdoulaye K. Koné
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Matthew B. Laurens
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Emily M. Stucke
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Ahmadou Dembélé
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Youssouf Tolo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Karim Traoré
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Amadou Niangaly
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Andrea A. Berry
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Bourema Kouriba
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Christopher V. Plowe
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Ogobara K Doumbo
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Kirsten E. Lyke
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Shannon Takala-Harrison
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Mahamadou A. Thera
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies; Bamako, Mali
| | - Mark A. Travassos
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - David Serre
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
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10
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Devi SB, Kumar S. Designing a multi-epitope chimeric protein from different potential targets: A potential vaccine candidate against Plasmodium. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 255:111560. [PMID: 37084957 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease that has been a continuous threat to mankind since the time immemorial. Owing to the complex multi-staged life cycle of the plasmodium parasite, an effective malaria vaccine which is fully protective against the parasite infection is urgently needed to deal with the challenges. In the present study, essential parasite proteins were identified and a chimeric protein with multivalent epitopes was generated. The designed chimeric protein consists of best potential B and T cell epitopes from five different essential parasite proteins. Physiochemical studies of the chimeric protein showed that the modeled vaccine construct was thermo-stable, hydrophilic and antigenic in nature. And the binding of the vaccine construct with Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) as revealed by the molecular docking suggests the possible interaction and role of the vaccine construct in activating the innate immune response. The constructed vaccine being a chimeric protein containing epitopes from different potential candidates could target different stages or pathways of the parasite. Moreover, the approach used in this study is time and cost effective, and can be applied in the discoveries of new potential vaccine targets for other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanasam Bijara Devi
- Department of Life science & Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar 788011 India.
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Department of Life science & Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar 788011 India
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11
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Li H, Sun L, Jiang Y, Wang B, Wu Z, Sun J, Zhang X, Li H, Zhao X. Identification and characterization of Eimeria tenella EtTrx1 protein. Vet Parasitol 2022; 310:109785. [PMID: 35994916 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Thioredoxin (Trx) is a widespread protein regulator of redox reactions in all organisms. It operates together with NADPH and thioredoxin reductase as a general protein disulfide catalytic system. Recently, Trx has been found to be related to the process by which apicomplexan protozoa invade host cells. In this study, Eimeria tenella thioredoxin (EtTrx1) was identified and its gene structural features, expression levels at different developmental stages, localization in sporozoites, roles in adhesion and invasion, and immunogenicity were investigated. Sequence analysis indicated that EtTrx1 contains a Trx domain with a WCGPC motif in 29-33 aa and a typical Trx fold, and belongs to thioredoxin family. EtTrx1 was detected on the surface of sporozoites using anti-EtTrx1 polyclonal antibodies under non-permeabilized conditions by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and also in a secretion form. EtTrx1 protein was highly transcribed and expressed in merozoites and sporozoites by quantitative PCR and western blot. The attachment assay showed that the adherence rates of yeast cells expressing EtTrx1 on the surface to host cells were 3.1-fold higher than those of the blank control. Specific anti-EtTrx1 antibodies inhibited the invasion of sporozoites into DF-1 cells. The highest inhibition rate was up to 36.75% compared to the control group. Immunization with recombinant EtTrx1 peptides also showed significant protection against lethal infections in chickens. It could offer moderate protective efficacy (Anticoccidial Index [ACI]: 163.70), induce humoral responses, and be an effective candidate for the development of new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yingying Jiang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bingxiang Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhiyuan Wu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jinkun Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
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12
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Piao X, Ma Y, Liu S, Hou N, Chen Q. A Novel Thioredoxin-Like Protein of Babesia microti Involved in Parasite Pathogenicity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:826818. [PMID: 35252036 PMCID: PMC8892138 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.826818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis poses a serious threat to immunocompromised individuals and the major etiological species of Babesia for human babesiosis is Babesia microti. Merozoites are a critical stage in the life cycle of Babesia microti. Several merozoite proteins have been demonstrated to play important roles in this process; however, most of the merozoite proteins of B. microti remain unknown. In the present study, we identified a novel merozoite protein of B. microti with similar structure to the thioredoxin (Trx)-like domain of the Trx family, which was named as B. microti Trx-like protein (BmTLP). Western blot assays demonstrated that this protein was expressed by B. microti during the erythrocytic infection process, and its expression peaked on day 7 post-infection in vivo. Immunofluorescence assay further showed that this protein is mainly expressed in B. microti merozoites. BmTLP hold both heparin- and erythrocyte-binding properties, which are critical functions of invasion-related proteins. Immunization with recombinant BmTLP imparted significant protection against B. microti infection in mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the novel merozoite protein, BmTLP, is an important pathogenic molecule of B. microti and may be a possible target for the design of babesiosis control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyu Piao
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Ma
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Hou
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Hou, ; Qijun Chen,
| | - Qijun Chen
- National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Hou, ; Qijun Chen,
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13
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Gupta A, Galinski MR, Voit EO. Dynamic Control Balancing Cell Proliferation and Inflammation is Crucial for an Effective Immune Response to Malaria. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:800721. [PMID: 35242812 PMCID: PMC8886244 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.800721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria has a complex pathology with varying manifestations and symptoms, effects on host tissues, and different degrees of severity and ultimate outcome, depending on the causative Plasmodium pathogen and host species. Previously, we compared the peripheral blood transcriptomes of two macaque species (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis) in response to acute primary infection by Plasmodium knowlesi. Although these two species are very closely related, the infection in M. mulatta is fatal, unless aggressively treated, whereas M. fascicularis develops a chronic, but tolerable infection in the blood. As a reason for this stark difference, our analysis suggests delayed pathogen detection in M. mulatta followed by extended inflammation that eventually overwhelms this monkey’s immune response. By contrast, the natural host M. fascicularis detects the pathogen earlier and controls the inflammation. Additionally, M. fascicularis limits cell proliferation pathways during the log phase of infection, presumably in an attempt to control inflammation. Subsequent cell proliferation suggests a cell-mediated adaptive immune response. Here, we focus on molecular mechanisms underlying the key differences in the host and parasite responses and their coordination. SICAvar Type 1 surface antigens are highly correlated with pattern recognition receptor signaling and important inflammatory genes for both hosts. Analysis of pathogen detection pathways reveals a similar signaling mechanism, but with important differences in the glutamate G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway. Furthermore, differences in inflammasome assembly processes suggests an important role of S100 proteins in balancing inflammation and cell proliferation. Both differences point to the importance of Ca2+ homeostasis in inflammation. Additionally, the kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio, a known inflammatory biomarker, emphasizes higher inflammation in M. mulatta during log phase. Transcriptomics-aided metabolic modeling provides a functional method for evaluating these changes and understanding downstream changes in NAD metabolism and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling, with enhanced NAD metabolism in M. fascicularis and stronger AhR signaling in M. mulatta. AhR signaling controls important immune genes like IL6, IFNγ and IDO1. However, direct changes due to AhR signaling could not be established due to complicated regulatory feedback mechanisms associated with the AhR repressor (AhRR). A complete understanding of the exact dynamics of the immune response is difficult to achieve. Nonetheless, our comparative analysis provides clear suggestions of processes that underlie an effective immune response. Thus, our study identifies multiple points of intervention that are apparently responsible for a balanced and effective immune response and thereby paves the way toward future immune strategies for treating malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuj Gupta
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Mary R. Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Eberhard O. Voit
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- *Correspondence: Eberhard O. Voit,
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14
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Reactive Oxygen Species as the Brainbox in Malaria Treatment. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10121872. [PMID: 34942976 PMCID: PMC8698694 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10121872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Several measures are in place to combat the worldwide spread of malaria, especially in regions of high endemicity. In part, most common antimalarials, such as quinolines and artemisinin and its derivatives, deploy an ROS-mediated approach to kill malaria parasites. Although some antimalarials may share similar targets and mechanisms of action, varying levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation may account for their varying pharmacological activities. Regardless of the numerous approaches employed currently and in development to treat malaria, concerningly, there has been increasing development of resistance by Plasmodium falciparum, which can be connected to the ability of the parasites to manage the oxidative stress from ROS produced under steady or treatment states. ROS generation has remained the mainstay in enforcing the antiparasitic activity of most conventional antimalarials. However, a combination of conventional drugs with ROS-generating ability and newer drugs that exploit vital metabolic pathways, such antioxidant machinery, could be the way forward in effective malaria control.
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15
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Tiwari S, Sharma N, Sharma GP, Mishra N. Redox interactome in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:423-434. [PMID: 33459846 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07051-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a severe threat to human health across the globe. This parasite alone causes the highest morbidity and mortality than any other species of Plasmodium. The parasites dynamically multiply in the erythrocytes of the vertebrate hosts, a large number of reactive oxygen species that damage biological macromolecules are produced in the cell during parasite growth. To relieve this intense oxidative stress, the parasite employs an NADPH-dependent thioredoxin and glutathione system that acts as an antioxidant and maintains redox status in the parasite. The mutual interaction of both redox proteins is involved in various biological functions and the survival of the erythrocytic stage of the parasite. Since the Plasmodium species is deficient in catalase and classical glutathione peroxidase, so their redox balance relies on a complex set of five peroxiredoxins, differentially positioned in the cytosol, mitochondria, apicoplast, and nucleus with partly overlapping substrate preferences. Moreover, Plasmodium falciparum possesses a set of members belonging to the thioredoxin superfamily, such as three thioredoxins, two thioredoxin-like proteins, one dithiol, three monocysteine glutaredoxins, and one redox-active plasmoredoxin with largely redundant functions. This review paper aims to discuss and encapsulate the biological function and current knowledge of the functional redox network of Plasmodium falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savitri Tiwari
- Parasite-Host Biology Group, National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Nivedita Sharma
- Parasite-Host Biology Group, National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110077, India
| | | | - Neelima Mishra
- Parasite-Host Biology Group, National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110077, India.
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16
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Dongchao Z, Ning J, Qijun C. Loss of rhoptry protein 9 impeded Toxoplasma gondii infectivity. Acta Trop 2020; 207:105464. [PMID: 32302689 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular parasite that critically depends on active invasion and egress from infected host cells to complete its propagation cycle. T. gondii rhoptry proteins (TgROPs) are virulent factors associated with host cell invasion, growth. In this study, we analyzed the functions of ROP9 in the process of T. gondii infection. The TgROP9 knockout RH strain (RH△ROP9) and its recovery strain (RH-ReROP9) were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The invasion, proliferation, and egress efficiency of the RH△ROP9 strain were evaluated and their pathogenicity to mice was analyzed. Compared with RH wild-type (RH-WT) and RH-ReROP9 strains, the invasion percentage of RH△ROP9 to Vero cells was reduced by about 28.0% (p< 0.01) at 1.5 h, and the relative proliferation percentage was decreased by about 35.0% (p< 0.01) after infection with 102 or 103 parasites. In addition, the RH△ROP9 strain also showed prolonged egress time from host cells. The survival time of the mice (12.6 ± 1.6 or 10.1 ± 1.1 days) were delayed (p < 0.001) after infection with either 200 or 1000 RH△ROP9 parasites. These evidences suggested that ROP9 facilitated T. gondii infection in vitro and in vivo.
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17
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Yin D, Jiang N, Zhang Y, Wang D, Sang X, Feng Y, Chen R, Wang X, Yang N, Chen Q. Global Lysine Crotonylation and 2-Hydroxyisobutyrylation in Phenotypically Different Toxoplasma gondii Parasites. Mol Cell Proteomics 2019; 18:2207-2224. [PMID: 31488510 PMCID: PMC6823851 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra119.001611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a unicellular protozoan parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa. The parasite repeatedly goes through a cycle of invasion, division and induction of host cell rupture, which is an obligatory process for proliferation inside warm-blooded animals. It is known that the biology of the parasite is controlled by a variety of mechanisms ranging from genomic to epigenetic to transcriptional regulation. In this study, we investigated the global protein posttranslational lysine crotonylation and 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation of two T. gondii strains, RH and ME49, which represent distinct phenotypes for proliferation and pathogenicity in the host. Proteins with differential expression and modification patterns associated with parasite phenotypes were identified. Many proteins in T. gondii were crotonylated and 2-hydroxyisobutyrylated, and they were localized in diverse subcellular compartments involved in a wide variety of cellular functions such as motility, host invasion, metabolism and epigenetic gene regulation. These findings suggest that lysine crotonylation and 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation are ubiquitous throughout the T. gondii proteome, regulating critical functions of the modified proteins. These data provide a basis for identifying important proteins associated with parasite development and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deqi Yin
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Rang Chen
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- College of Basic Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laoratory of Animal Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110166, China.
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18
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Zhang D, Jiang N, Chen Q. ROP9, MIC3, and SAG2 are heparin-binding proteins in Toxoplasma gondii and involved in host cell attachment and invasion. Acta Trop 2019; 192:22-29. [PMID: 30664845 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligatory intracellular parasite that can infect varieties of warm-blooded animals, including humans and birds. Heparan sulfate (HS) is widely distributed on the eukaryotic cell surface of vertebrates and can inhibit T. gondii invasion. In this study, we investigated the transcription and expression of the level of TgROP9, TgMIC3, and TgSAG2 in T. gondii RH strain, and found that the expression levels of these three proteins in invading parasites were higher compared to those free ranging parasites. The recombinant proteins showed specific binding activity to both heparin and host cell surface. Incubation of these proteins with the host cells could block T. gondiiinvasion. Furthermore, protein-specific antibodies also blocked parasite invasion. Antibodies in the sera of T. gondii infected individuals recognized the recombinant TgROP9, TgMIC3, and TgSAG2, which suggested the exposure of these proteins to human immune system. Mice immunized with the three proteins exhibited protective immunity against lethal challenge. The data collectively suggested that these parasitic proteins may be used as candidate antigens for development of anti-toxoplasmosis vaccine.
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