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Lee SK, Nguyen TK, Mohring F, Han JH, Firdaus ER, Na SH, Park WS, Moon RW, Han ET. Merozoite surface protein 1 paralog is involved in the human erythrocyte invasion of a zoonotic malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1314533. [PMID: 38111629 PMCID: PMC10726050 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1314533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The zoonotic malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is an important public health concern in Southeast Asia. Invasion of host erythrocytes is essential for parasite growth, and thus, understanding the repertoire of parasite proteins that enable this process is vital for identifying vaccine candidates and how some species are able to cause zoonotic infection. Merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) is found in all malaria parasite species and is perhaps the most well-studied as a potential vaccine candidate. While MSP1 is encoded by a single gene in P. falciparum, all other human infective species (P. vivax, P. knowlesi, P. ovale, and P. malariae) additionally encode a divergent paralogue known as MSP1P, and little is known about its role or potential functional redundancy with MSP1. We, therefore, studied the function of P. knowlesi merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (PkMSP1P), using both recombinant protein and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. The recombinant 19-kDa C-terminus of PkMSP1P (PkMSP1P-19) was shown to bind specifically to human reticulocytes. However, immunoblotting data suggested that PkMSP1P-19-induced antibodies can recognize PkMSP1-19 and vice versa, confounding our ability to separate the properties of these two proteins. Targeted disruption of the pkmsp1p gene profoundly impacts parasite growth, demonstrating for the first time that PkMSP1P is important in in vitro growth of P. knowlesi and likely plays a distinct role from PkMSP1. Importantly, the MSP1P KO also enabled functional characterization of the PkMSP1P-19 antibodies, revealing clear immune cross-reactivity between the two paralogues, highlighting the vital importance of genetic studies in contextualizing recombinant protein studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Kyun Lee
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Tuyet Kha Nguyen
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Franziska Mohring
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Egy Rahman Firdaus
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hun Na
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Sun Park
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Robert W. Moon
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
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2
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Hu TH, Rosli N, Mohamad DSA, Kadir KA, Ching ZH, Chai YH, Ideris NN, Ting LSC, Dihom AA, Kong SL, Wong EKY, Sia JEH, Ti T, Chai IPF, Tang WY, Hii KC, Divis PCS, Davis TME, Daneshvar C, Singh B. A comparison of the clinical, laboratory and epidemiological features of two divergent subpopulations of Plasmodium knowlesi. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20117. [PMID: 34635723 PMCID: PMC8505493 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99644-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi, a simian malaria parasite responsible for all recent indigenous cases of malaria in Malaysia, infects humans throughout Southeast Asia. There are two genetically distinct subpopulations of Plasmodium knowlesi in Malaysian Borneo, one associated with long-tailed macaques (termed cluster 1) and the other with pig-tailed macaques (cluster 2). A prospective study was conducted to determine whether there were any between-subpopulation differences in clinical and laboratory features, as well as in epidemiological characteristics. Over 2 years, 420 adults admitted to Kapit Hospital, Malaysian Borneo with knowlesi malaria were studied. Infections with each subpopulation resulted in mostly uncomplicated malaria. Severe disease was observed in 35/298 (11.7%) of single cluster 1 and 8/115 (7.0%) of single cluster 2 infections (p = 0.208). There was no clinically significant difference in outcome between the two subpopulations. Cluster 1 infections were more likely to be associated with peri-domestic activities while cluster 2 were associated with interior forest activities consistent with the preferred habitats of the respective macaque hosts. Infections with both P. knowlesi subpopulations cause a wide spectrum of disease including potentially life-threatening complications, with no implications for differential patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Huey Hu
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Nawal Rosli
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Dayang S A Mohamad
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Khamisah A Kadir
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tiana Ti
- Kapit Hospital, Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | - Paul C S Divis
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Timothy M E Davis
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia.,University of Western Australia, Medical School, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - Cyrus Daneshvar
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK
| | - Balbir Singh
- Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia.
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Loy DE, Plenderleith LJ, Sundararaman SA, Liu W, Gruszczyk J, Chen YJ, Trimboli S, Learn GH, MacLean OA, Morgan ALK, Li Y, Avitto AN, Giles J, Calvignac-Spencer S, Sachse A, Leendertz FH, Speede S, Ayouba A, Peeters M, Rayner JC, Tham WH, Sharp PM, Hahn BH. Evolutionary history of human Plasmodium vivax revealed by genome-wide analyses of related ape parasites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E8450-E8459. [PMID: 30127015 PMCID: PMC6130405 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810053115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild-living African apes are endemically infected with parasites that are closely related to human Plasmodium vivax, a leading cause of malaria outside Africa. This finding suggests that the origin of P. vivax was in Africa, even though the parasite is now rare in humans there. To elucidate the emergence of human P. vivax and its relationship to the ape parasites, we analyzed genome sequence data of P. vivax strains infecting six chimpanzees and one gorilla from Cameroon, Gabon, and Côte d'Ivoire. We found that ape and human parasites share nearly identical core genomes, differing by only 2% of coding sequences. However, compared with the ape parasites, human strains of P. vivax exhibit about 10-fold less diversity and have a relative excess of nonsynonymous nucleotide polymorphisms, with site-frequency spectra suggesting they are subject to greatly relaxed purifying selection. These data suggest that human P. vivax has undergone an extreme bottleneck, followed by rapid population expansion. Investigating potential host-specificity determinants, we found that ape P. vivax parasites encode intact orthologs of three reticulocyte-binding protein genes (rbp2d, rbp2e, and rbp3), which are pseudogenes in all human P. vivax strains. However, binding studies of recombinant RBP2e and RBP3 proteins to human, chimpanzee, and gorilla erythrocytes revealed no evidence of host-specific barriers to red blood cell invasion. These data suggest that, from an ancient stock of P. vivax parasites capable of infecting both humans and apes, a severely bottlenecked lineage emerged out of Africa and underwent rapid population growth as it spread globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy E Loy
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Lindsey J Plenderleith
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Sesh A Sundararaman
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Weimin Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Jakub Gruszczyk
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Yi-Jun Chen
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Stephanie Trimboli
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Gerald H Learn
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Oscar A MacLean
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Alex L K Morgan
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Yingying Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Alexa N Avitto
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Jasmin Giles
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | | | | | | | - Sheri Speede
- Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, International Development Association-Africa, Portland, OR 97208
| | - Ahidjo Ayouba
- Recherche Translationnelle Appliquée au VIH et aux Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Martine Peeters
- Recherche Translationnelle Appliquée au VIH et aux Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Paul M Sharp
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104;
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Normocyte-binding protein required for human erythrocyte invasion by the zoonotic malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7231-6. [PMID: 27303038 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1522469113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dominant cause of malaria in Malaysia is now Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic parasite of cynomolgus macaque monkeys found throughout South East Asia. Comparative genomic analysis of parasites adapted to in vitro growth in either cynomolgus or human RBCs identified a genomic deletion that includes the gene encoding normocyte-binding protein Xa (NBPXa) in parasites growing in cynomolgus RBCs but not in human RBCs. Experimental deletion of the NBPXa gene in parasites adapted to growth in human RBCs (which retain the ability to grow in cynomolgus RBCs) restricted them to cynomolgus RBCs, demonstrating that this gene is selectively required for parasite multiplication and growth in human RBCs. NBPXa-null parasites could bind to human RBCs, but invasion of these cells was severely impaired. Therefore, NBPXa is identified as a key mediator of P. knowlesi human infection and may be a target for vaccine development against this emerging pathogen.
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Ahmed MA, Fong MY, Lau YL, Yusof R. Clustering and genetic differentiation of the normocyte binding protein (nbpxa) of Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysia Borneo. Malar J 2016; 15:241. [PMID: 27118390 PMCID: PMC4845393 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1294-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The zoonotic malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi has become an emerging threat to South East Asian countries particular in Malaysia. A recent study from Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo) discovered two distinct normocyte binding protein xa (Pknbpxa) types of P. knowlesi. In the present study, the Pknbpxa of clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) were investigated for the presence of Pknbpxa types and natural selection force acting on the gene. Method Blood samples were collected from 47 clinical samples from Peninsular Malaysia (n = 35) and Sabah (Malaysian Borneo, n = 12) were used in the study. The Pknbpxa gene was successfully amplified and directly sequenced from 38 of the samples (n = 31, Peninsular Malaysia and n = 7, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo). The Pknbpxa sequences of P. knowlesi isolates from Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo) were retrieved from GenBank and included in the analysis. Polymorphism, genetic diversity and natural selection of Pknbpxa sequences were analysed using DNAsp v 5.10, MEGA5. Phylogentics of Pknbpxa sequences was analysed using MrBayes v3.2 and Splits Tree v4.13.1. The pairwise FST indices were used to determine the genetic differentiation between the Pknbpxa types and was calculated using Arlequin 3.5.1.3. Results Analyses of the sequences revealed Pknbpxa dimorphism throughout Malaysia indicating co-existence of the two types (Type-1 and Type-2) of Pknbpxa. More importantly, a third type (Type 3) closely related to Type 2 Pknbpxa was also detected. This third type was found only in the isolates originating from Peninsular Malaysia. Negative natural selection was observed, suggesting functional constrains within the Pknbpxa types. Conclusions This study revealed the existence of three Pknbpxa types in Malaysia. Types 1 and 2 were found not only in Malaysian Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah) but also in Peninsular Malaysia. A third type which was specific only to samples originating from Peninsular Malaysia was discovered. Further genetic studies with a larger sample size will be necessary to determine whether natural selection is driving this genetic differentiation and geographical separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Atique Ahmed
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. .,Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ruhani Yusof
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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6
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Sutton PL, Luo Z, Divis PCS, Friedrich VK, Conway DJ, Singh B, Barnwell JW, Carlton JM, Sullivan SA. Characterizing the genetic diversity of the monkey malaria parasite Plasmodium cynomolgi. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 40:243-252. [PMID: 26980604 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium cynomolgi is a malaria parasite that typically infects Asian macaque monkeys, and humans on rare occasions. P. cynomolgi serves as a model system for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, with which it shares such important biological characteristics as formation of a dormant liver stage and a preference to invade reticulocytes. While genomes of three P. cynomolgi strains have been sequenced, genetic diversity of P. cynomolgi has not been widely investigated. To address this we developed the first panel of P. cynomolgi microsatellite markers to genotype eleven P. cynomolgi laboratory strains and 18 field isolates from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. We found diverse genotypes among most of the laboratory strains, though two nominally different strains were found to be genetically identical. We also investigated sequence polymorphism in two erythrocyte invasion gene families, the reticulocyte binding protein and Duffy binding protein genes, in these strains. We also observed copy number variation in rbp genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L Sutton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Zunping Luo
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Paul C S Divis
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Volney K Friedrich
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, 38 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - David J Conway
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Balbir Singh
- Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - John W Barnwell
- Laboratory Research and Development Unit, Malaria Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jane M Carlton
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Steven A Sullivan
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, United States.
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7
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Tyagi K, Gupta D, Saini E, Choudhary S, Jamwal A, Alam MS, Zeeshan M, Tyagi RK, Sharma YD. Recognition of Human Erythrocyte Receptors by the Tryptophan-Rich Antigens of Monkey Malaria Parasite Plasmodium knowlesi. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138691. [PMID: 26393350 PMCID: PMC4579084 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The monkey malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi also infect humans. There is a lack of information on the molecular mechanisms that take place between this simian parasite and its heterologous human host erythrocytes leading to this zoonotic disease. Therefore, we investigated here the binding ability of P. knowlesi tryptophan-rich antigens (PkTRAgs) to the human erythrocytes and sharing of the erythrocyte receptors between them as well as with other commonly occurring human malaria parasites. Methods Six PkTRAgs were cloned and expressed in E.coli as well as in mammalian CHO-K1 cell to determine their human erythrocyte binding activity by cell-ELISA, and in-vitro rosetting assay, respectively. Results Three of six PkTRAgs (PkTRAg38.3, PkTRAg40.1, and PkTRAg67.1) showed binding to human erythrocytes. Two of them (PkTRAg40.1 and PkTRAg38.3) showed cross-competition with each other as well as with the previously described P.vivax tryptophan-rich antigens (PvTRAgs) for human erythrocyte receptors. However, the third protein (PkTRAg67.1) utilized the additional but different human erythrocyte receptor(s) as it did not cross-compete for erythrocyte binding with either of these two PkTRAgs as well as with any of the PvTRAgs. These three PkTRAgs also inhibited the P.falciparum parasite growth in in-vitro culture, further indicating the sharing of human erythrocyte receptors by these parasite species and the biological significance of this receptor-ligand interaction between heterologous host and simian parasite. Conclusions Recognition and sharing of human erythrocyte receptor(s) by PkTRAgs with human parasite ligands could be part of the strategy adopted by the monkey malaria parasite to establish inside the heterologous human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kriti Tyagi
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Deepali Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Ekta Saini
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Shilpa Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Abhishek Jamwal
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Mohd. Shoeb Alam
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Mohammad Zeeshan
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Rupesh K. Tyagi
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Yagya D. Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
- * E-mail:
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Lauron EJ, Aw Yeang HX, Taffner SM, Sehgal RNM. De novo assembly and transcriptome analysis of Plasmodium gallinaceum identifies the Rh5 interacting protein (ripr), and reveals a lack of EBL and RH gene family diversification. Malar J 2015; 14:296. [PMID: 26243218 PMCID: PMC4524024 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0814-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria parasites that infect birds can have narrow or broad host-tropisms. These differences in host specificity make avian malaria a useful model for studying the evolution and transmission of parasite assemblages across geographic ranges. The molecular mechanisms involved in host-specificity and the biology of avian malaria parasites in general are important aspects of malaria pathogenesis that warrant further examination. Here, the transcriptome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum was characterized to investigate the biology and the conservation of genes across various malaria parasite species. Methods The P. gallinaceum transcriptome was annotated and KEGG pathway mapping was performed. The ripr gene and orthologous genes that play critical roles in the purine salvage pathway were identified and characterized using bioinformatics and phylogenetic methods. Results Analysis of the transcriptome sequence database identified essential genes of the purine salvage pathway in P. gallinaceum that shared high sequence similarity to Plasmodium falciparum when compared to other mammalian Plasmodium spp. However, based on the current sequence data, there was a lack of orthologous genes that belonged to the erythrocyte-binding-like (EBL) and reticulocyte-binding-like homologue (RH) family in P. gallinaceum. In addition, an orthologue of the Rh5 interacting protein (ripr) was identified. Conclusions These findings suggest that the pathways involved in parasite red blood cell invasion are significantly different in avian Plasmodium parasites, but critical metabolic pathways are conserved throughout divergent Plasmodium taxa. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0814-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvin J Lauron
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Han Xian Aw Yeang
- Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Samantha M Taffner
- Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Ravinder N M Sehgal
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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9
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Lapp SA, Mok S, Zhu L, Wu H, Preiser PR, Bozdech Z, Galinski MR. Plasmodium knowlesi gene expression differs in ex vivo compared to in vitro blood-stage cultures. Malar J 2015; 14:110. [PMID: 25880967 PMCID: PMC4369371 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0612-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium knowlesi is one of five Plasmodium species known to cause malaria in humans and can result in severe illness and death. While a zoonosis in humans, this simian malaria parasite species infects macaque monkeys and serves as an experimental model for in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro studies. It has underpinned malaria discoveries relating to host-pathogen interactions, the immune response and immune evasion strategies. This study investigated differences in P. knowlesi gene expression in samples from ex vivo and in vitro cultures. METHODS Gene expression profiles were generated using microarrays to compare the stage-specific transcripts detected for a clone of P. knowlesi propagated in the blood of a rhesus macaque host and then grown in an ex-vivo culture, and the same clone adapted to long-term in vitro culture. Parasite samples covering one blood-stage cycle were analysed at four-hour intervals. cDNA was generated and hybridized to an oligoarray representing the P. knowlesi genome. Two replicate experiments were developed from in vitro cultures. Expression values were filtered, normalized, and analysed using R and Perl language and applied to a sine wave model to determine changes in equilibrium and amplitude. Differentially expressed genes from ex vivo and in vitro time points were detected using limma R/Bioconductor and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). RESULTS Major differences were noted between the ex vivo and in vitro time courses in overall gene expression and the length of the cycle (25.5 hours ex vivo; 33.5 hours in vitro). GSEA of genes up-regulated ex vivo showed an enrichment of various genes including SICAvar, ribosomal- associated and histone acetylation pathway genes. In contrast, certain genes involved in metabolism and cell growth, such as porphobilinogen deaminase and tyrosine phosphatase, and one SICAvar gene, were significantly up-regulated in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates how gene expression in P. knowlesi blood-stage parasites can differ dramatically depending on whether the parasites are grown in vivo, with only one cycle of development ex vivo, or as an adapted isolate in long-term in vitro culture. These data bring emphasis to the importance of studying the parasite, its biology and disease manifestations in the context of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey A Lapp
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Sachel Mok
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Lei Zhu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Peter R Preiser
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Zybnek Bozdech
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Mary R Galinski
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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10
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Ahmed AM, Pinheiro MM, Divis PC, Siner A, Zainudin R, Wong IT, Lu CW, Singh-Khaira SK, Millar SB, Lynch S, Willmann M, Singh B, Krishna S, Cox-Singh J. Disease progression in Plasmodium knowlesi malaria is linked to variation in invasion gene family members. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3086. [PMID: 25121807 PMCID: PMC4133233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging pathogens undermine initiatives to control the global health impact of infectious diseases. Zoonotic malaria is no exception. Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite of Southeast Asian macaques, has entered the human population. P. knowlesi, like Plasmodium falciparum, can reach high parasitaemia in human infections, and the World Health Organization guidelines for severe malaria list hyperparasitaemia among the measures of severe malaria in both infections. Not all patients with P. knowlesi infections develop hyperparasitaemia, and it is important to determine why. Between isolate variability in erythrocyte invasion, efficiency seems key. Here we investigate the idea that particular alleles of two P. knowlesi erythrocyte invasion genes, P. knowlesi normocyte binding protein Pknbpxa and Pknbpxb, influence parasitaemia and human disease progression. Pknbpxa and Pknbpxb reference DNA sequences were generated from five geographically and temporally distinct P. knowlesi patient isolates. Polymorphic regions of each gene (approximately 800 bp) were identified by haplotyping 147 patient isolates at each locus. Parasitaemia in the study cohort was associated with markers of disease severity including liver and renal dysfunction, haemoglobin, platelets and lactate, (r = ≥ 0.34, p = <0.0001 for all). Seventy-five and 51 Pknbpxa and Pknbpxb haplotypes were resolved in 138 (94%) and 134 (92%) patient isolates respectively. The haplotypes formed twelve Pknbpxa and two Pknbpxb allelic groups. Patients infected with parasites with particular Pknbpxa and Pknbpxb alleles within the groups had significantly higher parasitaemia and other markers of disease severity. Our study strongly suggests that P. knowlesi invasion gene variants contribute to parasite virulence. We focused on two invasion genes, and we anticipate that additional virulent loci will be identified in pathogen genome-wide studies. The multiple sustained entries of this diverse pathogen into the human population must give cause for concern to malaria elimination strategists in the Southeast Asian region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atique M. Ahmed
- Malaria Research Centre, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Miguel M. Pinheiro
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Paul C. Divis
- Malaria Research Centre, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Angela Siner
- Malaria Research Centre, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Ramlah Zainudin
- Malaria Research Centre, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Sarina K. Singh-Khaira
- Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Scott B. Millar
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Lynch
- Clinical Blood Sciences, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthias Willmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Balbir Singh
- Malaria Research Centre, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Sanjeev Krishna
- Malaria Research Centre, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janet Cox-Singh
- Malaria Research Centre, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
- Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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11
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Grüring C, Moon RW, Lim C, Holder AA, Blackman MJ, Duraisingh MT. Human red blood cell-adapted Plasmodium knowlesi parasites: a new model system for malaria research. Cell Microbiol 2014; 16:612-20. [PMID: 24506567 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi is a simian malaria parasite primarily infecting macaque species in Southeast Asia. Although its capacity to infect humans has been recognized since the early part of the last century, it has recently become evident that human infections are widespread and potentially life threatening. Historically, P. knowlesi has proven to be a powerful tool in early studies of malaria parasites, providing key breakthroughs in understanding many aspects of Plasmodium biology. However, the necessity to grow the parasite either in macaques or in vitro using macaque blood restricted research to laboratories with access to these resources. The recent adaptation of P. knowlesi to grow and proliferate in vitro in human red blood cells (RBCs) is therefore a substantial step towards revitalizing and expanding research on P. knowlesi. Furthermore, the development of a highly efficient transfection system to genetically modify the parasite makes P. knowlesi an ideal model to study parasite biology. In this review, we elaborate on the importance of P. knowlesi in earlier phases of malaria research and highlight the future potential of the newly available human adapted P. knowlesi parasite lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof Grüring
- Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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12
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Mueller I, Galinski MR, Tsuboi T, Arevalo-Herrera M, Collins WE, King CL. Natural acquisition of immunity to Plasmodium vivax: epidemiological observations and potential targets. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2013; 81:77-131. [PMID: 23384622 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407826-0.00003-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Population studies show that individuals acquire immunity to Plasmodium vivax more quickly than Plasmodium falciparum irrespective of overall transmission intensity, resulting in the peak burden of P. vivax malaria in younger age groups. Similarly, actively induced P. vivax infections in malaria therapy patients resulted in faster and generally more strain-transcending acquisition of immunity than P. falciparum infections. The mechanisms behind the more rapid acquisition of immunity to P. vivax are poorly understood. Natural acquired immune responses to P. vivax target both pre-erythrocytic and blood-stage antigens and include humoral and cellular components. To date, only a few studies have investigated the association of these immune responses with protection, with most studies focussing on a few merozoite antigens (such as the Pv Duffy binding protein (PvDBP), the Pv reticulocyte binding proteins (PvRBPs), or the Pv merozoite surface proteins (PvMSP1, 3 & 9)) or the circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP). Naturally acquired transmission-blocking (TB) immunity (TBI) was also found in several populations. Although limited, these data support the premise that developing a multi-stage P. vivax vaccine may be feasible and is worth pursuing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Mueller
- Walter + Eliza Hall Institute, Infection & Immunity Division, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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