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Oelschlegel AM, Bhattacharjee R, Wenk P, Harit K, Rothkötter HJ, Koch SP, Boehm-Sturm P, Matuschewski K, Budinger E, Schlüter D, Goldschmidt J, Nishanth G. Beyond the microcirculation: sequestration of infected red blood cells and reduced flow in large draining veins in experimental cerebral malaria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2396. [PMID: 38493187 PMCID: PMC10944460 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46617-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Sequestration of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) in the microcirculation is a hallmark of cerebral malaria (CM) in post-mortem human brains. It remains controversial how this might be linked to the different disease manifestations, in particular brain swelling leading to brain herniation and death. The main hypotheses focus on iRBC-triggered inflammation and mechanical obstruction of blood flow. Here, we test these hypotheses using murine models of experimental CM (ECM), SPECT-imaging of radiolabeled iRBCs and cerebral perfusion, MR-angiography, q-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. We show that iRBC accumulation and reduced flow precede inflammation. Unexpectedly, we find that iRBCs accumulate not only in the microcirculation but also in large draining veins and sinuses, particularly at the rostral confluence. We identify two parallel venous streams from the superior sagittal sinus that open into the rostral rhinal veins and are partially connected to infected skull bone marrow. The flow in these vessels is reduced early, and the spatial patterns of pathology correspond to venous drainage territories. Our data suggest that venous efflux reductions downstream of the microcirculation are causally linked to ECM pathology, and that the different spatiotemporal patterns of edema development in mice and humans could be related to anatomical differences in venous anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Oelschlegel
- Combinatorial NeuroImaging Core Facility, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
- Research group Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - R Bhattacharjee
- Combinatorial NeuroImaging Core Facility, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - P Wenk
- Combinatorial NeuroImaging Core Facility, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - K Harit
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - H-J Rothkötter
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - S P Koch
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité 3R | Replace, Reduce, Refine, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - P Boehm-Sturm
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité 3R | Replace, Reduce, Refine, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - K Matuschewski
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - E Budinger
- Combinatorial NeuroImaging Core Facility, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center of Behavioural Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - D Schlüter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - J Goldschmidt
- Combinatorial NeuroImaging Core Facility, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Center of Behavioural Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - G Nishanth
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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Nesbitt JE, Jaskiewicz JJ, Bean H, Toner M, Tessier SN, Sandlin RD. Cryogenic enrichment of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from spiked whole blood. Cryobiology 2024; 114:104810. [PMID: 38040049 PMCID: PMC10954416 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2023.104810] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Each individual cell type typically requires a unique set of conditions for optimal cryopreservation outcome, which relates to its specific response to cryoprotective agent (CPA) toxicity, osmotic behavior and sensitivity to ice crystallization. Cryopreservation of heterogenous cell populations is therefore exceedingly difficult as it requires separate and often conflicting conditions for each cell type. Conversely, these contrasting conditions could be utilized to favor cryogenic preference of a single cell population within a heterogenous sample, leading to its enrichment by elimination of remaining cells. To establish proof-of-concept for this overall approach, a protocol was developed for the cryogenic enrichment of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from whole blood. To accomplish this goal, we evaluated the effects of CPAs and cooling conditions during cryopreservation of whole blood samples spiked with P. falciparum gametocytes. We identified that cooling to -80 °C at a rate of -1 °C/min in the presence of 11 % glycerol selectively favors recovery of gametocytes. This protocol eliminates 95.3 ± 1.7 % of total blood cells and recovers 43.2 ± 6.5 % of parasites, leading to a 19-fold enrichment as assessed by microscopic examination of blood smears. This protocol is tunable, where gametocyte enrichment 900-fold may be feasible, however there is an apparent tradeoff in overall parasite recovery. Although translation of this protocol for point-of-care testing for malaria presents many challenges, the overall approach of cryogenic purification may prove useful for alternative diagnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny E Nesbitt
- Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Children's Boston, USA
| | - Justyna J Jaskiewicz
- Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Children's Boston, USA
| | - Hailey Bean
- Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Children's Boston, USA
| | - Mehmet Toner
- Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Children's Boston, USA
| | - Shannon N Tessier
- Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Children's Boston, USA
| | - Rebecca D Sandlin
- Center for Engineering in Medicine & Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Children's Boston, USA.
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Dash R, Skillman KM, Pereira L, Mascarenhas A, Dass S, Walke J, Almeida A, Fernandes M, Gomes E, White J, Chery-Karschney L, Khandeparkar A, Rathod PK, Duraisingh MT, Kanjee U. Development of a Plasmodium vivax biobank for functional ex vivo assays. Malar J 2023; 22:250. [PMID: 37653486 PMCID: PMC10470152 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04668-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax is the second most prevalent cause of malaria yet remains challenging to study due to the lack of a continuous in vitro culture system, highlighting the need to establish a biobank of clinical isolates with multiple freezes per sample for use in functional assays. Different methods for cryopreserving parasite isolates were compared and subsequently the most promising one was validated. Enrichment of early- and late-stage parasites and parasite maturation were quantified to facilitate assay planning. METHODS In order to compare cryopreservation protocols, nine clinical P. vivax isolates were frozen with four glycerolyte-based mixtures. Parasite recovery post thaw, post KCl-Percoll enrichment and in short-term in vitro culture was measured via slide microscopy. Enrichment of late-stage parasites by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) was measured. Short and long-term storage of parasites at either - 80 °C or liquid nitrogen were also compared. RESULTS Of the four cryopreservation mixtures, one mixture (glycerolyte:serum:RBC at a 2.5:1.5:1 ratio) resulted in improved parasite recovery and statistically significant (P < 0.05) enhancement in parasite survival in short-term in vitro culture. A parasite biobank was subsequently generated using this protocol resulting in a collection of 106 clinical isolates, each with 8 vials. The quality of the biobank was validated by measuring several factors from 47 thaws: the average reduction in parasitaemia post-thaw (25.3%); the average fold enrichment post KCl-Percoll (6.65-fold); and the average percent recovery of parasites (22.0%, measured from 30 isolates). During short-term in vitro culture, robust maturation of ring stage parasites to later stages (> 20% trophozoites, schizonts and gametocytes) was observed in 60.0% of isolates by 48 h. Enrichment of mature parasite stages via MACS showed good reproducibility, with an average of 30.0% post-MACS parasitaemia and an average of 5.30 × 105 parasites/vial. Finally, the effect of storage temperature was tested, and no large impacts from short-term (7 days) or long-term (7-10 years) storage at - 80 °C on parasite recovery, enrichment or viability was observed. CONCLUSIONS Here, an optimized freezing method for P. vivax clinical isolates is demonstrated as a template for the generation and validation of a parasite biobank for use in functional assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Dash
- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Kristen M Skillman
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ligia Pereira
- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Anjali Mascarenhas
- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Sheena Dass
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jayashri Walke
- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Anvily Almeida
- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Mezia Fernandes
- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Edwin Gomes
- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, 403202, India
| | - John White
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Laura Chery-Karschney
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Pradipsinh K Rathod
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Usheer Kanjee
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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4
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Dash R, Skillman KM, Pereira L, Mascarenhas A, Dass S, Walke J, Almeida A, Fernandes M, Gomes E, White J, Chery-Karschney L, Khandeparkar A, Rathod PK, Duraisingh MT, Kanjee U. Development of a Plasmodium vivax biobank for functional ex vivo assays. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.17.533128. [PMID: 36993272 PMCID: PMC10055260 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax is the second most prevalent cause of malaria yet remains challenging to study due to the lack of a continuous in vitro culture system, highlighting the need to establish a biobank of clinical isolates with multiple freezes per sample for use in functional assays. Different methods for cryopreserving parasite isolates were compared and subsequently the most promising one was validated. Enrichment of early- and late-stage parasites and parasite maturation were quantified to facilitate assay planning. Methods In order to compare cryopreservation protocols, nine clinical P. vivax isolates were frozen with four glycerolyte-based mixtures. Parasite recovery post thaw, post KCl-Percoll enrichment and in short-term in vitro culture was measured via slide microscopy. Enrichment of late-stage parasites by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) was measured. Short and long-term storage of parasites at either -80°C or liquid nitrogen were also compared. Results Of the four cryopreservation mixtures, one mixture (glycerolyte:serum:RBC at a 2.5:1.5:1 ratio) resulted in improved parasite recovery and statistically significant (P<0.05) enhancement in parasite survival in short-term in vitro culture. A parasite biobank was subsequently generated using this protocol resulting in a collection with 106 clinical isolates, each with 8 vials. The quality of the biobank was validated by measuring several factors from 47 thaws: the average reduction in parasitemia post-thaw (25.3%); the average fold enrichment post KCl-Percoll (6.65-fold); and the average percent recovery of parasites (22.0%, measured from 30 isolates). During short-term in vitro culture, robust maturation of ring stage parasites to later stages (>20% trophozoites, schizonts and gametocytes) was observed in 60.0% of isolates by 48 hours. Enrichment of mature parasite stages via MACS showed good reproducibility, with an average 30.0% post-MACS parasitemia and an average 5.30 × 10 5 parasites/vial. Finally, the effect of storage temperature was tested, and no large impacts from short-term (7 day) or long term (7 - 10 year) storage at -80°C on parasite recovery, enrichment or viability was observed. Conclusions Here, an optimized freezing method for P. vivax clinical isolates is demonstrated as a template for the generation and validation of a parasite biobank for use in functional assays.
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Lugaajju A, Tijani MK, Persson KEM. Flow Cytometry Assay of Plasmodium Falciparum-Specific B-Cell Proportions. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2470:681-688. [PMID: 35881383 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2189-9_51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Detection of P. falciparum-specific subpopulations of B-cells is important for studies of immunity in malaria. This protocol relies on the photostability and protein loading capacity of carboxylated quantum dots to detect a broad range of different P. falciparum-specific B-cells. Infected red blood cell ghosts, obtained by permeabilization of infected cells with Streptolysin O, are coupled with carboxyl quantum dots using N-ethyl-N-dimethylaminopropyl-carbodiimide condensation. Immunophenotyping of P. falciparum-specific B-cells is performed by flow cytometry using Fc-receptor block, quantum dot-infected red blood cell ghost conjugates, and fluorochrome-conjugated anti-human CD19 mouse monoclonal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Lugaajju
- School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Muyideen Kolapo Tijani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden
- Cellular Parasitology Programme, Cell Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Maniga JN, Akinola SA, Odoki M, Odda J, Adebayo IA. Limited Polymorphism in Plasmodium falciparum Artemisinin Resistance Kelch13-Propeller Gene Among Clinical Isolates from Bushenyi District, Uganda. Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:5153-5163. [PMID: 34908849 PMCID: PMC8665267 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s341357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug resistance remains a major challenge in malaria treatment, especially after the emergence of resistance to artemisinin-based combined therapies. Plasmodium falciparum Kelch13 gene mutations are implicated in conferring artemisinin resistance. Thus, this study was aimed at determining the occurrence of Kelch13 (K13) propeller resistance gene polymorphism mutations in Bushenyi district, Uganda. METHODS Participants suspected to have malaria were recruited. P. falciparum was confirmed using antigen histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) (Pf) (Access Bio, Inc, USA) and microscopy. Malaria-positive patients were treated with artemeter-lumefantrine (AL). Blood was withdrawn from participants who tested positive for parasites after day 3 and kept in blood filter papers (ET31CHR; Whatman Limited, Kent, UK). DNA was extracted using chelex-suspension method. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted and the second-round products sequenced using Sanger's method. Sequenced products were analyzed using DNAsp 5.10.01 software and then blasted on to the NCBI for K13-propeller gene sequence identity using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). RESULTS Out of 283 enrolled participants, 194 completed the follow-up schedule. A total of 134 (69%) had no parasites on day 3, while 60 (31%) had parasites on that day. Out of the 60 samples, 40 (62%) were positively amplified as P. falciparum, with polymorphisms in the K13-propeller gene detected in 3 (7.5%) out of the 40 amplicons. Polymorphisms at codon 1929, 1788 and 1801 were detected separately in one sample each. Sequences have been deposited in NCBI with accession numbers PRJNA720348 and PRJNA720800. CONCLUSION Polymorphisms in the K13-propeller gene previously reported to be associated with artemisinin resistance were not detected in the P. falciparum isolates from Bushenyi district, Uganda. More studies need to be conducted on the new mutations detected so as to understand their association, if any, with ACT resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephat Nyabayo Maniga
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
| | - Saheed Adekunle Akinola
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North- West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Martin Odoki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
| | - John Odda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ismail Abiola Adebayo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda
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Aggarwal S, Peng WK, Srivastava S. Multi-Omics Advancements towards Plasmodium vivax Malaria Diagnosis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:2222. [PMID: 34943459 PMCID: PMC8700291 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax malaria is one of the most lethal infectious diseases, with 7 million infections annually. One of the roadblocks to global malaria elimination is the lack of highly sensitive, specific, and accurate diagnostic tools. The absence of diagnostic tools in particular has led to poor differentiation among parasite species, poor prognosis, and delayed treatment. The improvement necessary in diagnostic tools can be broadly grouped into two categories: technologies-driven and omics-driven progress over time. This article discusses the recent advancement in omics-based malaria for identifying the next generation biomarkers for a highly sensitive and specific assay with a rapid and antecedent prognosis of the disease. We summarize the state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies, the key challenges, opportunities, and emerging prospects of multi-omics-based sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Aggarwal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, Maharashtra, India;
| | - Weng Kung Peng
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Building A1, University Innovation Park, Dongguan 523808, China
- Precision Medicine-Engineering Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Sanjeeva Srivastava
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, Maharashtra, India;
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Liffner B, Absalon S. Expansion Microscopy Reveals Plasmodium falciparum Blood-Stage Parasites Undergo Anaphase with A Chromatin Bridge in the Absence of Mini-Chromosome Maintenance Complex Binding Protein. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2306. [PMID: 34835432 PMCID: PMC8620465 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum undergoes closed mitosis, which occurs within an intact nuclear envelope, and differs significantly from its human host. Mitosis is underpinned by the dynamics of microtubules and the nuclear envelope. To date, our ability to study P. falciparum mitosis by microscopy has been hindered by the small size of the P. falciparum nuclei. Ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM) has recently been developed for P. falciparum, allowing the visualization of mitosis at the individual nucleus level. Using U-ExM, three intranuclear microtubule structures are observed: hemispindles, mitotic spindles, and interpolar spindles. A previous study demonstrated that the mini-chromosome maintenance complex binding-protein (MCMBP) depletion caused abnormal nuclear morphology and microtubule defects. To investigate the role of microtubules following MCMBP depletion and study the nuclear envelope in these parasites, we developed the first nuclear stain enabled by U-ExM in P. falciparum. MCMBP-deficient parasites show aberrant hemispindles and mitotic spindles. Moreover, anaphase chromatin bridges and individual nuclei containing multiple microtubule structures were observed following MCMBP knockdown. Collectively, this study refines our understanding of MCMBP-deficient parasites and highlights the utility of U-ExM coupled with a nuclear envelope stain for studying mitosis in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabrina Absalon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
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Deshmukh SS, Shakya B, Chen A, Durmus NG, Greenhouse B, Egan ES, Demirci U. Multiparametric biophysical profiling of red blood cells in malaria infection. Commun Biol 2021; 4:697. [PMID: 34103669 PMCID: PMC8187722 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02181-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Biophysical separation promises label-free, less-invasive methods to manipulate the diverse properties of live cells, such as density, magnetic susceptibility, and morphological characteristics. However, some cellular changes are so minute that they are undetectable by current methods. We developed a multiparametric cell-separation approach to profile cells with simultaneously changing density and magnetic susceptibility. We demonstrated this approach with the natural biophysical phenomenon of Plasmodium falciparum infection, which modifies its host erythrocyte by simultaneously decreasing density and increasing magnetic susceptibility. Current approaches have used these properties separately to isolate later-stage infected cells, but not in combination. We present biophysical separation of infected erythrocytes by balancing gravitational and magnetic forces to differentiate infected cell stages, including early stages for the first time, using magnetic levitation. We quantified height distributions of erythrocyte populations-27 ring-stage synchronized samples and 35 uninfected controls-and quantified their unique biophysical signatures. This platform can thus enable multidimensional biophysical measurements on unique cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya S Deshmukh
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University Schools of Engineering and Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Canary Center for Early Cancer Detection, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bikash Shakya
- Department of Pediatrics; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anna Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Naside Gozde Durmus
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bryan Greenhouse
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Egan
- Department of Pediatrics; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Utkan Demirci
- Canary Center for Early Cancer Detection, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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10
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Zeming KK, Sato Y, Yin L, Huang NJ, Wong LH, Loo HL, Lim YB, Lim CT, Chen J, Preiser PR, Han J. Microfluidic label-free bioprocessing of human reticulocytes from erythroid culture. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:3445-3460. [PMID: 32793940 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc01128e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In vitro erythroid cultures from human hematopoietic stem cells produce immature red blood cells (RBCs) called reticulocytes, which are important for RBCs production, and are widely used in scientific studies of malaria pathology, hematological diseases and protein translation. However, in vitro reticulocyte cultures contain expelled cell nuclei and erythroblasts as undesirable by-products and current purification methods such as density gradient centrifugation and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) are not optimal for integrated bioprocessing and downstream therapeutic applications. Developments in Dean flow fractionation (DFF) and deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidic sorting methods are ideal alternatives due to label-free size sorting, throughput scalability and low manufacturing cost. DFF sorting of reticulocytes from whole erythroid culture showed a 2.4-fold increase in cell recovery compared to FACS albeit with a lower purity; DLD sorting showed comparable cell recovery and purity with FACS using an inverse-L pillar structure to emphasize size and deformability sorting of reticulocytes. The viability and functional assurance of purified reticulocytes showed conserved cell deformability and supported the propagation of malaria parasites. Collectively, our study on label-free RBCs isolation represents a significant technical advancement towards developing in vitro generated viable human RBCs, opening opportunities for close-loop cell manufacturing, downstream therapeutic and research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerwin Kwek Zeming
- Critical Analytics for Manufacturing of Personalized Medicine, Singapore-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alliance for Research and Technology, 138602, Singapore
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The C-type Lectin Receptor CLEC12A Recognizes Plasmodial Hemozoin and Contributes to Cerebral Malaria Development. Cell Rep 2020; 28:30-38.e5. [PMID: 31269448 PMCID: PMC6616648 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria represents a major cause of death from infectious disease. Hemozoin is a Plasmodium-derived product that contributes to progression of cerebral malaria. However, there is a gap of knowledge regarding how hemozoin is recognized by innate immunity. Myeloid C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) encompass a family of carbohydrate-binding receptors that act as pattern recognition receptors in innate immunity. In the present study, we identify the CLR CLEC12A as a receptor for hemozoin. Dendritic cell-T cell co-culture assays indicate that the CLEC12A/hemozoin interaction enhances CD8+ T cell cross-priming. Using the Plasmodium berghei Antwerpen-Kasapa (ANKA) mouse model of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), we find that CLEC12A deficiency protects mice from ECM, illustrated by reduced ECM incidence and ameliorated clinical symptoms. In conclusion, we identify CLEC12A as an innate sensor of plasmodial hemozoin. CLEC12A recognizes plasmodial hemozoin The CLEC12A/hemozoin interaction enhances CD8+ T cell cross-priming in vitro CLEC12A−/− mice are protected from experimental cerebral malaria
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Butler TC, Zhang J, Zhang H, Ryu S, Greene AS. Magnetic Patterning of Vorticella convallaria in a Microfluidic Device. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2020; 67:687-690. [PMID: 32702141 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We describe an inexpensive magnetic cell patterning method as a tool for protozoologists. The ciliate Vorticella convallaria is useful for various biofluidics applications. Here, we show that V. convallaria will ingest metal beads and that permanent magnets can be used to pattern cells in Petri dishes or a microfluidic device. Patterning is reversibly achieved by placing magnets at the point of desired cell attachment. Analogous magnetic manipulation could be performed using other phagocytic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor C Butler
- Science and Math Department, Judson University, Elgin, 60123, Illinois, USA
| | - Jieyu Zhang
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Albright College, Reading, 19604, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Haipeng Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, 68588, Nebraska, USA
| | - Sangjin Ryu
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, 68588, Nebraska, USA.,Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, Lincoln, 68588, Nebraska, USA
| | - Amy Styer Greene
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Albright College, Reading, 19604, Pennsylvania, USA
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Ressurreição M, Thomas JA, Nofal SD, Flueck C, Moon RW, Baker DA, van Ooij C. Use of a highly specific kinase inhibitor for rapid, simple and precise synchronization of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi asexual blood-stage parasites. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235798. [PMID: 32673324 PMCID: PMC7365400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
During the course of the asexual erythrocytic stage of development, Plasmodium spp. parasites undergo a series of morphological changes and induce alterations in the host cell. At the end of this stage, the parasites egress from the infected cell, after which the progeny invade a new host cell. These processes are rapid and occur in a time-dependent manner. Of particular importance, egress and invasion of erythrocytes by the parasite are difficult to capture in an unsynchronized culture, or even a culture that has been synchronized within a window of one to several hours. Therefore, precise synchronization of parasite cultures is of paramount importance for the investigation of these processes. Here we describe a method for synchronizing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium knowlesi asexual blood stage parasites with ML10, a highly specific inhibitor of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) that arrests parasite growth approximately 15 minutes prior to egress. This inhibitor allows parasite cultures to be synchronized so that all parasites are within a window of development of several minutes, with a simple wash step. Furthermore, we show that parasites remain viable for several hours after becoming arrested by the compound and that ML10 has advantages, owing to its high specificity and low EC50, over the previously used PKG inhibitor Compound 2. Here, we demonstrate that ML10 is an invaluable tool for the study of Plasmodium spp. asexual blood stage biology and for the routine synchronization of P. falciparum and P. knowlesi cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Ressurreição
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - James A. Thomas
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie D. Nofal
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Flueck
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert W. Moon
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Baker
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christiaan van Ooij
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Plasmodium vivax spleen-dependent genes encode antigens associated with cytoadhesion and clinical protection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:13056-13065. [PMID: 32439708 PMCID: PMC7293605 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1920596117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In spite of low peripheral blood parasitemia, vivax malaria causes severe disease. This conundrum finds an explanation from reports suggesting that the spleen is a place for parasite sequestration. We performed a global transcriptional analysis of parasites that grew in the presence or absence of the spleen in a nonhuman primate model. We identified 67 spleen-dependent genes, including multigene variant families, and functionally demonstrated specific adherence to human spleen fibroblasts by a member of such families. Moreover, we further demonstrated that spleen-dependent Plasmodium vivax genes code for immunogenic proteins during natural infections. Our results indicate that this organ plays an important function in P. vivax malaria and call for deeper studies of the role of spleen in P. vivax infections. Plasmodium vivax, the most widely distributed human malaria parasite, causes severe clinical syndromes despite low peripheral blood parasitemia. This conundrum is further complicated as cytoadherence in the microvasculature is still a matter of investigations. Previous reports in Plasmodium knowlesi, another parasite species shown to infect humans, demonstrated that variant genes involved in cytoadherence were dependent on the spleen for their expression. Hence, using a global transcriptional analysis of parasites obtained from spleen-intact and splenectomized monkeys, we identified 67 P. vivax genes whose expression was spleen dependent. To determine their role in cytoadherence, two Plasmodium falciparum transgenic lines expressing two variant proteins pertaining to VIR and Pv-FAM-D multigene families were used. Cytoadherence assays demonstrated specific binding to human spleen but not lung fibroblasts of the transgenic line expressing the VIR14 protein. To gain more insights, we expressed five P. vivax spleen-dependent genes as recombinant proteins, including members of three different multigene families (VIR, Pv-FAM-A, Pv-FAM-D), one membrane transporter (SECY), and one hypothetical protein (HYP1), and determined their immunogenicity and association with clinical protection in a prospective study of 383 children in Papua New Guinea. Results demonstrated that spleen-dependent antigens are immunogenic in natural infections and that antibodies to HYP1 are associated with clinical protection. These results suggest that the spleen plays a major role in expression of parasite proteins involved in cytoadherence and can reveal antigens associated with clinical protection, thus prompting a paradigm shift in P. vivax biology toward deeper studies of the spleen during infections.
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A Histone Methyltransferase Inhibitor Can Reverse Epigenetically Acquired Drug Resistance in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02021-19. [PMID: 32179524 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02021-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites invade and replicate within red blood cells (RBCs), extensively modifying their structure and gaining access to the extracellular environment by placing the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC) into the RBC membrane. Expression of members of the cytoadherence linked antigen gene 3 (clag3) family is required for PSAC activity, a process that is regulated epigenetically. PSAC is a well-established route of uptake for large, hydrophilic antimalarial compounds, and parasites can acquire resistance by silencing clag3 gene expression, thereby reducing drug uptake. We found that exposure to sub-IC50 concentrations of the histone methyltransferase inhibitor chaetocin caused substantial changes in both clag3 gene expression and RBC permeability, and reversed acquired resistance to the antimalarial compound blasticidin S that is transported through PSACs. Chaetocin treatment also altered progression of parasites through their replicative cycle, presumably by changing their ability to modify chromatin appropriately to enable DNA replication. These results indicate that targeting histone modifiers could represent a novel tool for reversing epigenetically acquired drug resistance in P. falciparum.
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Effects and Mechanism of Action of Artemisinin on Mitochondria of Plasmodium berghei. Chin J Integr Med 2019; 26:277-282. [PMID: 31227963 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3164-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the antimalarial effects and mechanisms of artemisinin (Qinghaosu in Chinese, QHS) on mitochondria in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. METHODS A total of 108 C57 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei were randomly divided into 3 groups by weight: the control group, 200 and 400 mg/kg QHS groups. The two QHS treatment groups were further divided into 4 sub-groups with 12 animals each time according to the treatment time, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h. Normal saline was intragastrically (i.g.) administered to the control group. The other two groups received different doses of QHS by i.g. administration. Animals were treated once with QHS for different detection time as follows: 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h. The mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative damage, membrane potential, and membrane permeability and other indexes were detected. RESULTS After administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg QHS, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in Plasmodium and its mitochondria were reduced (P<0.05), the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased (P<0.05), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was also increased (P<0.05). At the same time, the membrane potential of the mitochondria was reduced and the degree to which the membrane permeability transition pore was opened was irreversibly increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Mitochondria in Plasmodium were the targets of QHS, which can adversely affect mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative damage, membrane potential, and membrane opening, and ultimately exert an antimalarial effect.
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Markwalter C, Kantor AG, Moore CP, Richardson KA, Wright DW. Inorganic Complexes and Metal-Based Nanomaterials for Infectious Disease Diagnostics. Chem Rev 2019; 119:1456-1518. [PMID: 30511833 PMCID: PMC6348445 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases claim millions of lives each year. Robust and accurate diagnostics are essential tools for identifying those who are at risk and in need of treatment in low-resource settings. Inorganic complexes and metal-based nanomaterials continue to drive the development of diagnostic platforms and strategies that enable infectious disease detection in low-resource settings. In this review, we highlight works from the past 20 years in which inorganic chemistry and nanotechnology were implemented in each of the core components that make up a diagnostic test. First, we present how inorganic biomarkers and their properties are leveraged for infectious disease detection. In the following section, we detail metal-based technologies that have been employed for sample preparation and biomarker isolation from sample matrices. We then describe how inorganic- and nanomaterial-based probes have been utilized in point-of-care diagnostics for signal generation. The following section discusses instrumentation for signal readout in resource-limited settings. Next, we highlight the detection of nucleic acids at the point of care as an emerging application of inorganic chemistry. Lastly, we consider the challenges that remain for translation of the aforementioned diagnostic platforms to low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - David W. Wright
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
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18
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Nkhoma SC, Banda RL, Khoswe S, Dzoole-Mwale TJ, Ward SA. Intra-host dynamics of co-infecting parasite genotypes in asymptomatic malaria patients. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 65:414-424. [PMID: 30145390 PMCID: PMC6219893 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria-infected individuals often harbor mixtures of genetically distinct parasite genotypes. We studied intra-host dynamics of parasite genotypes co-infecting asymptomatic adults in an area of intense malaria transmission in Chikhwawa, Malawi. Serial blood samples (5 ml) were collected over seven consecutive days from 25 adults with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum malaria and analyzed to determine whether a single peripheral blood sample accurately captures within-host parasite diversity. Blood samples from three of the participants were also analyzed by limiting dilution cloning and SNP genotyping of the parasite clones isolated to examine both the number and relatedness of co-infecting parasite haplotypes. We observed rapid turnover of co-infecting parasite genotypes in 88% of the individuals sampled (n = 22) such that the genetic composition of parasites infecting these individuals changed dramatically over the course of seven days of follow up. Nineteen of the 25 individuals sampled (76%) carried multiple parasite genotypes at baseline. Analysis of serial blood samples from three of the individuals revealed that they harbored 6, 12 and 17 distinct parasite haplotypes respectively. Approximately 70% of parasite haplotypes recovered from the three extensively sampled individuals were unrelated (proportion of shared alleles <83.3%) and were deemed to have primarily arisen from superinfection (inoculation of unrelated parasite haplotypes through multiple mosquito bites). The rest were related at the half-sib level or greater and were deemed to have been inoculated into individual human hosts via parasite co-transmission from single mosquito bites. These findings add further to the growing weight of evidence indicating that a single blood sample poorly captures within-host parasite diversity and underscore the importance of repeated blood sampling to accurately capture within-host parasite ecology. Our data also demonstrate a more pronounced role for parasite co-transmission in generating within-host parasite diversity in high transmission settings than previously assumed. Taken together, these findings have important implications for understanding the evolution of drug resistance, malaria transmission, parasite virulence, allocation of gametocyte sex ratios and acquisition of malaria immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Standwell C Nkhoma
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; Wellcome Trust-Liverpool-Glasgow Centre for Global Health Research, 70 Pembroke Place, Liverpool L69 3GF, UK.
| | - Rachel L Banda
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Stanley Khoswe
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Tamika J Dzoole-Mwale
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Stephen A Ward
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
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Abstract
Pillar-based passive microfluidic devices combine the advantages of simple designs, small device footprint, and high selectivity for size-based separation of blood cells. Most of these device designs have been validated with dilute blood samples. Handling whole blood in pillar-based devices is extremely challenging due to clogging. The high proportion of cells (particularly red blood cells) in blood, the varying sizes and stiffness of the different blood cells, and the tendency of the cells to aggregate lead to clogging of the pillars within a short period. We recently reported a ra dial pi llar d evice (RAPID) design for continuous and high throughput separation of multi-sized rigid polystyrene particles in a single experiment. In the current manuscript, we have given detailed guidelines to modify the design of RAPID for any application with deformable objects (e.g. cells). We have adapted RAPID to work with whole blood without any pre-processing steps. We were successful in operating the device with whole blood for almost 6 h, which is difficult to achieve with most pillar-based devices. The availability of multiple parallel paths for the cells and the provision for a self-generating cross flow in the device design were the main reasons behind the minimal clogging in our device. We also observed that a vibrator motor attached to the inlet tubing occasionally disturbed the cell clumps. As an illustration of the improved device design, we demonstrated up to ∼ 60-fold enrichment of platelets.
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Gabriel HB, Azevedo MF, Kimura EA, Katzin AM. Plasmodium falciparum parasites overexpressing farnesyl diphosphate synthase/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase are more resistant to risedronate. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018; 113:e180174. [PMID: 30110072 PMCID: PMC6086031 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Farnesyl diphosphate synthase/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS/GGPPS) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of isoprenic chains. Risedronate, a bisphosphonate containing nitrogen (N-BP), is a potent inhibitor of blood stage Plasmodium. Here, we show that P. falciparum parasites overexpressing FPPS/GGPPS are more resistant to risedronate, suggesting that this enzyme is an important target, and bisphosphonate analogues can be used as potential antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heloisa B Gabriel
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauro F Azevedo
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Emília A Kimura
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alejandro M Katzin
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Perillyl alcohol exhibits in vitro inhibitory activity against Plasmodium falciparum and protects against experimental cerebral malaria. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2018; 51:370-377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2017.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Ahmed H, Destgeer G, Park J, Jung JH, Ahmad R, Park K, Sung HJ. A Pumpless Acoustofluidic Platform for Size-Selective Concentration and Separation of Microparticles. Anal Chem 2017; 89:13575-13581. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Husnain Ahmed
- Department of Mechanical
Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Ghulam Destgeer
- Department of Mechanical
Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Jinsoo Park
- Department of Mechanical
Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Jin Ho Jung
- Department of Mechanical
Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Raheel Ahmad
- Department of Mechanical
Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Kwangseok Park
- Department of Mechanical
Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Hyung Jin Sung
- Department of Mechanical
Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
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CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts reveal genetic interaction between strain-transcendent erythrocyte determinants of Plasmodium falciparum invasion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E9356-E9365. [PMID: 29078358 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711310114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During malaria blood-stage infections, Plasmodium parasites interact with the RBC surface to enable invasion followed by intracellular proliferation. Critical factors involved in invasion have been identified using biochemical and genetic approaches including specific knockdowns of genes of interest from primary CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (cRBCs). Here we report the development of a robust in vitro culture system to produce RBCs that allow the generation of gene knockouts via CRISPR/Cas9 using the immortal JK-1 erythroleukemia line. JK-1 cells spontaneously differentiate, generating cells at different stages of erythropoiesis, including terminally differentiated nucleated RBCs that we term "jkRBCs." A screen of small-molecule epigenetic regulators identified several bromodomain-specific inhibitors that promote differentiation and enable production of synchronous populations of jkRBCs. Global surface proteomic profiling revealed that jkRBCs express all known Pfalciparum host receptors in a similar fashion to cRBCs and that multiple Pfalciparum strains invade jkRBCs at comparable levels to cRBCs and RBCs. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we deleted two host factors, basigin (BSG) and CD44, for which no natural nulls exist. BSG interacts with the parasite ligand Rh5, a prominent vaccine candidate. A BSG knockout was completely refractory to parasite invasion in a strain-transcendent manner, confirming the essential role for BSG during invasion. CD44 was recently identified in an RNAi screen of blood group genes as a host factor for invasion, and we show that CD44 knockout results in strain-transcendent reduction in invasion. Furthermore, we demonstrate a functional interaction between these two determinants in mediating Pfalciparum erythrocyte invasion.
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Development of a High-Throughput Magnetic Separation Device for Malaria-Infected Erythrocytes. Ann Biomed Eng 2017; 45:2888-2898. [PMID: 28924724 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-017-1925-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
This study describes a non-dilutive high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) device intended to continuously remove malaria-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) from the circulation. A mesoscale prototype device with disposable photo-etched ferromagnetic grid and reusable permanent magnet was designed with a computationally-optimized magnetic force. The prototype device was evaluated in vitro using a non-pathogenic analog for malaria-infected blood, comprised of 24% healthy RBCs, 6% human methemoglobin RBCs (metRBCs), and 70% phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The device provided a 27.0 ± 2.2% reduction of metRBCs in a single pass at a flow rate of 77 μL min-1. This represents a clearance rate over 380 times greater throughput than microfluidic devices reported previously. These positive results encourage development of a clinical scale system that would economize time and donor blood for treating severe malaria.
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Concentration of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in whole blood samples by magnetic cell sorting enhances parasite infection rates in mosquito feeding assays. Malar J 2017; 16:315. [PMID: 28779750 PMCID: PMC5545093 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1959-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquito-feeding assays are important tools to guide the development and support the evaluation of transmission-blocking interventions. These functional bioassays measure the sporogonic development of gametocytes in blood-fed mosquitoes. Measuring the infectivity of low gametocyte densities has become increasingly important in malaria elimination scenarios. This will pose challenges to the sensitivity and throughput of existing mosquito-feeding assay protocols. Here, different gametocyte concentration methods of blood samples were explored to optimize conditions for detection of positive mosquito infections. Methods Mature gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum were diluted into whole blood samples of malaria-naïve volunteers. Standard centrifugation, Percoll gradient, magnetic cell sorting (MACS) enrichment were compared using starting blood volumes larger than the control (direct) feed. Results MACS gametocyte enrichment resulted in the highest infection intensity with statistically significant increases in mean oocyst density in 2 of 3 experiments (p = 0.0003; p ≤ 0.0001; p = 0.2348). The Percoll gradient and standard centrifugation procedures resulted in variable infectivity. A significant increase in the proportion of infected mosquitoes and oocyst density was found when larger volumes of gametocyte-infected blood were used with the MACS procedure. Conclusions The current study demonstrates that concentration methods of P. falciparum gametocyte-infected whole blood samples can enhance transmission in mosquito-feeding assays. Gametocyte purification by MACS was the most efficient method, allowing the assessment of gametocyte infectivity in low-density gametocyte infections, as can be expected in natural or experimental conditions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1959-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Li J, Tao Z, Li Q, Brashear A, Wang Y, Xia H, Fang Q, Cui L. Further evaluation of the NWF filter for the purification of Plasmodium vivax-infected erythrocytes. Malar J 2017; 16:201. [PMID: 28514968 PMCID: PMC5436455 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1855-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Isolation of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) from clinical blood samples is often required for experiments, such as ex vivo drug assays, in vitro invasion assays and genome sequencing. Current methods for removing white blood cells (WBCs) from malaria-infected blood are time-consuming or costly. A prototype non-woven fabric (NWF) filter was developed for the purification of iRBCs, which showed great efficiency for removing WBCs in a pilot study. Previous work was performed with prototype filters optimized for processing 5-10 mL of blood. With the commercialization of the filters, this study aims to evaluate the efficiency and suitability of the commercial NWF filter for the purification of Plasmodium vivax-infected RBCs in smaller volumes of blood and to compare its performance with that of Plasmodipur® filters. METHODS Forty-three clinical P. vivax blood samples taken from symptomatic patients attending malaria clinics at the China-Myanmar border were processed using the NWF filters in a nearby field laboratory. The numbers of WBCs and iRBCs and morphology of P. vivax parasites in the blood samples before and after NWF filtration were compared. The viability of P. vivax parasites after filtration from 27 blood samples was examined by in vitro short-term culture. In addition, the effectiveness of the NWF filter for removing WBCs was compared with that of the Plasmodipur® filter in six P. vivax blood samples. RESULTS Filtration of 1-2 mL of P. vivax-infected blood with the NWF filter removed 99.68% WBCs. The densities of total iRBCs, ring and trophozoite stages before and after filtration were not significantly different (P > 0.05). However, the recovery rates of schizont- and gametocyte-infected RBCs, which were minor parasite stages in the clinical samples, were relatively low. After filtration, the P. vivax parasites did not show apparent morphological changes. Culture of 27 P. vivax-infected blood samples after filtration showed that parasites successfully matured into the schizont stage. The WBC removal rates and iRBC recovery rates were not significantly different between the NWF and Plasmodipur® filters (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS When tested with 1-2 mL of P. vivax-infected blood, the NWF filter could effectively remove WBCs and the recovery rates for ring- and trophozoite-iRBCs were high. P. vivax parasites after filtration could be successfully cultured in vitro to reach maturity. The performance of the NWF and Plasmodipur® filters for removing WBCs and recovering iRBCs was comparable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangyan Li
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Zhiyong Tao
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Awtum Brashear
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Xia
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Qiang Fang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China. .,Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA, USA.
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27
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Rajendran E, Hapuarachchi SV, Miller CM, Fairweather SJ, Cai Y, Smith NC, Cockburn IA, Bröer S, Kirk K, van Dooren GG. Cationic amino acid transporters play key roles in the survival and transmission of apicomplexan parasites. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14455. [PMID: 28205520 PMCID: PMC5316894 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are obligate intracellular parasites that scavenge essential nutrients from their hosts via transporter proteins on their plasma membrane. The identities of the transporters that mediate amino acid uptake into apicomplexans are unknown. Here we demonstrate that members of an apicomplexan-specific protein family-the Novel Putative Transporters (NPTs)-play key roles in the uptake of cationic amino acids. We show that an NPT from Toxoplasma gondii (TgNPT1) is a selective arginine transporter that is essential for parasite survival and virulence. We also demonstrate that a homologue of TgNPT1 from the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei (PbNPT1), shown previously to be essential for the sexual gametocyte stage of the parasite, is a cationic amino acid transporter. This reveals a role for cationic amino acid scavenging in gametocyte biology. Our study demonstrates a critical role for amino acid transporters in the survival, virulence and life cycle progression of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Rajendran
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Sanduni V Hapuarachchi
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Catherine M Miller
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Smithfield, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - Stephen J Fairweather
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Yeping Cai
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Nicholas C Smith
- Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Research Laboratory, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Smithfield, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - Ian A Cockburn
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Stefan Bröer
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Kiaran Kirk
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
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28
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Sercundes MK, Ortolan LS, Debone D, Soeiro-Pereira PV, Gomes E, Aitken EH, Neto AC, Russo M, D' Império Lima MR, Alvarez JM, Portugal S, Marinho CRF, Epiphanio S. Targeting Neutrophils to Prevent Malaria-Associated Acute Lung Injury/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Mice. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006054. [PMID: 27926944 PMCID: PMC5142790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the greatest burdens to global health, causing nearly 500,000 deaths in 2014. When manifesting in the lungs, severe malaria causes acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). We have previously shown that a proportion of DBA/2 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) develop ALI/ARDS and that these mice recapitulate various aspects of the human syndrome, such as pulmonary edema, hemorrhaging, pleural effusion and hypoxemia. Herein, we investigated the role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of malaria-associated ALI/ARDS. Mice developing ALI/ARDS showed greater neutrophil accumulation in the lungs compared with mice that did not develop pulmonary complications. In addition, mice with ALI/ARDS produced more neutrophil-attracting chemokines, myeloperoxidase and reactive oxygen species. We also observed that the parasites Plasmodium falciparum and PbA induced the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) ex vivo, which were associated with inflammation and tissue injury. The depletion of neutrophils, treatment with AMD3100 (a CXCR4 antagonist), Pulmozyme (human recombinant DNase) or Sivelestat (inhibitor of neutrophil elastase) decreased the development of malaria-associated ALI/ARDS and significantly increased mouse survival. This study implicates neutrophils and NETs in the genesis of experimentally induced malaria-associated ALI/ARDS and proposes a new therapeutic approach to improve the prognosis of severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle K. Sercundes
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luana S. Ortolan
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniela Debone
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Eliane Gomes
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth H. Aitken
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio Condino Neto
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Momtchilo Russo
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria R. D' Império Lima
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José M. Alvarez
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia Portugal
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudio R. F. Marinho
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Epiphanio
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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29
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Ex Vivo Maturation Assay for Testing Antimalarial Sensitivity of Rodent Malaria Parasites. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:6859-6866. [PMID: 27600050 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01292-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo assay systems provide a powerful approach to studying human malaria parasite biology and to testing antimalarials. For rodent malaria parasites, short-term in vitro culture and ex vivo antimalarial susceptibility assays are relatively cumbersome, relying on in vivo passage for synchronization, since ring-stage parasites are an essential starting material. Here, we describe a new approach based on the enrichment of ring-stage Plasmodium berghei, P. yoelii, and P. vinckei vinckei using a single-step Percoll gradient. Importantly, we demonstrate that the enriched ring-stage parasites develop synchronously regardless of the parasite strain or species used. Using a flow cytometry assay with Hoechst and ethidium or MitoTracker dye, we show that parasite development is easily and rapidly monitored. Finally, we demonstrate that this approach can be used to screen antimalarial drugs.
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30
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Hennek JW, Kumar AA, Wiltschko AB, Patton MR, Lee SYR, Brugnara C, Adams RP, Whitesides GM. Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia using density-based fractionation of red blood cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:3929-3939. [PMID: 27713998 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00875e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a nutritional disorder that impacts over one billion people worldwide; it may cause permanent cognitive impairment in children, fatigue in adults, and suboptimal outcomes in pregnancy. IDA can be diagnosed by detection of red blood cells (RBCs) that are characteristically small (microcytic) and deficient in hemoglobin (hypochromic), typically by examining the results of a complete blood count performed by a hematology analyzer. These instruments are expensive, not portable, and require trained personnel; they are, therefore, unavailable in many low-resource settings. This paper describes a low-cost and rapid method to diagnose IDA using aqueous multiphase systems (AMPS)-thermodynamically stable mixtures of biocompatible polymers and salt that spontaneously form discrete layers having sharp steps in density. AMPS are preloaded into a microhematocrit tube and used with a drop of blood from a fingerstick. After only two minutes in a low-cost centrifuge, the tests (n = 152) were read by eye with a sensitivity of 84% (72-93%) and a specificity of 78% (68-86%), corresponding to an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89. The AMPS test outperforms diagnosis by hemoglobin alone (AUC = 0.73) and is comparable to methods used in clinics like reticulocyte hemoglobin concentration (AUC = 0.91). Standard machine learning tools were used to analyze images of the resulting tests captured by a standard desktop scanner to 1) slightly improve diagnosis of IDA-sensitivity of 90% (83-96%) and a specificity of 77% (64-87%), and 2) predict several important red blood cell parameters, such as mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. These results suggest that the use of AMPS combined with machine learning provides an approach to developing point-of-care hematology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alex B Wiltschko
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, USA and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, USA
| | | | | | - Carlo Brugnara
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, USA.
| | | | - George M Whitesides
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, USA and Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, USA
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31
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Lasonder E, Rijpma SR, van Schaijk BCL, Hoeijmakers WAM, Kensche PR, Gresnigt MS, Italiaander A, Vos MW, Woestenenk R, Bousema T, Mair GR, Khan SM, Janse CJ, Bártfai R, Sauerwein RW. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of P. falciparum gametocytes: molecular insight into sex-specific processes and translational repression. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:6087-101. [PMID: 27298255 PMCID: PMC5291273 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual differentiation of malaria parasites into gametocytes in the vertebrate host and subsequent gamete fertilization in mosquitoes is essential for the spreading of the disease. The molecular processes orchestrating these transitions are far from fully understood. Here, we report the first transcriptome analysis of male and female Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes coupled with a comprehensive proteome analysis. In male gametocytes there is an enrichment of proteins involved in the formation of flagellated gametes; proteins involved in DNA replication, chromatin organization and axoneme formation. On the other hand, female gametocytes are enriched in proteins required for zygote formation and functions after fertilization; protein-, lipid- and energy-metabolism. Integration of transcriptome and proteome data revealed 512 highly expressed maternal transcripts without corresponding protein expression indicating large scale translational repression in P. falciparum female gametocytes for the first time. Despite a high degree of conservation between Plasmodium species, 260 of these ‘repressed transcripts’ have not been previously described. Moreover, for some of these genes, protein expression is only reported in oocysts and sporozoites indicating that repressed transcripts can be partitioned into short- and long-term storage. Finally, these data sets provide an essential resource for identification of vaccine/drug targets and for further mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Lasonder
- School of Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Sanna R Rijpma
- Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ben C L van Schaijk
- Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands Malaria Epigenomics Group, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wieteke A M Hoeijmakers
- Malaria Epigenomics Group, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Philip R Kensche
- Malaria Epigenomics Group, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Annet Italiaander
- Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn W Vos
- Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Woestenenk
- Flow Cytometry Facility, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Teun Bousema
- Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gunnar R Mair
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shahid M Khan
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chris J Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Richárd Bártfai
- Malaria Epigenomics Group, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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32
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Nam J, Shin Y, Tan JKS, Lim YB, Lim CT, Kim S. High-throughput malaria parasite separation using a viscoelastic fluid for ultrasensitive PCR detection. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:2086-2092. [PMID: 27160315 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00162a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A novel microfluidic device for high-throughput particle separation using a viscoelastic fluid, which enables the rapid detection of extremely rare malaria parasites by using PCR analysis, is proposed. Our device consists of two segments: the 1st stage for sheathless pre-alignment and the 2nd stage for separation based on size-dependent viscoelasticity-induced lateral migration. The use of a high-aspect ratio channel and a viscoelastic polymer solution with low viscosity enables high-throughput processing. The device performance was first optimized using synthetic particles. A mixture of 2 and 10 μm particles was focused at the center plane in the 1st stage. The smaller particles, serving as surrogates for malaria parasites, were subsequently separated in the 2nd stage with a recovery rate of ∼96% at 400 μl min(-1). Finally, separation of the malaria parasites from the white blood cells was performed. At 400 μl min(-1), almost all white blood cells were removed and the malaria parasites were separated with a ∼94% recovery rate and ∼99% purity. Although the initial concentration of the malaria parasites was too low to be detected by PCR analysis, WBC depletion and buffer removal increased the parasite concentration sufficiently such that PCR detection was possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghun Nam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore.
| | - Yong Shin
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Biomedical Engineering Research Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine & Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, 88 Olympicro-43gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Justin Kok Soon Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore.
| | - Ying Bena Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore. and Infectious Diseases (ID) IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centre, Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore.
| | - Sangho Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore. and Department of Surgery, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228, Singapore
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33
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Wu WT, Martin AB, Gandini A, Aubry N, Massoudi M, Antaki JF. Design of microfluidic channels for magnetic separation of malaria-infected red blood cells. MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS 2016; 20:41. [PMID: 27761107 PMCID: PMC5066816 DOI: 10.1007/s10404-016-1707-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
This study is motivated by the development of a blood cell filtration device for removal of malaria-infected, parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs). The blood was modeled as a multi-component fluid using the computational fluid dynamics discrete element method (CFD-DEM), wherein plasma was treated as a Newtonian fluid and the red blood cells (RBCs) were modeled as soft-sphere solid particles which move under the influence of drag, collisions with other RBCs, and a magnetic force. The CFD-DEM model was first validated by a comparison with experimental data from Han et al. 2006 (Han and Frazier 2006) involving a microfluidic magnetophoretic separator for paramagnetic deoxygenated blood cells. The computational model was then applied to a parametric study of a parallel-plate separator having hematocrit of 40% with a 10% of the RBCs as pRBCs. Specifically, we investigated the hypothesis of introducing an upstream constriction to the channel to divert the magnetic cells within the near-wall layer where the magnetic force is greatest. Simulations compared the efficacy of various geometries upon the stratification efficiency of the pRBCs. For a channel with nominal height of 100 µm, the addition of an upstream constriction of 80% improved the proportion of pRBCs retained adjacent to the magnetic wall (separation efficiency) by almost 2 fold, from 26% to 49%. Further addition of a downstream diffuser reduced remixing, hence improved separation efficiency to 72%. The constriction introduced a greater pressure drop (from 17 to 495 Pa), which should be considered when scaling-up this design for a clinical-sized system. Overall, the advantages of this design include its ability to accommodate physiological hematocrit and high throughput - which is critical for clinical implementation as a blood-filtration system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Tao Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Andrea Blue Martin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Alberto Gandini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Nadine Aubry
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Mehrdad Massoudi
- U. S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), PA, 15236, USA
| | - James F. Antaki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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Immunization with the MAEBL M2 Domain Protects against Lethal Plasmodium yoelii Infection. Infect Immun 2015; 83:3781-92. [PMID: 26169268 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00262-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a world-threatening disease largely because of the lack of a long-lasting and fully effective vaccine. MAEBL is a type 1 transmembrane molecule with a chimeric cysteine-rich ectodomain homologous to regions of the Duffy binding-like erythrocyte binding protein and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) antigens. Although MAEBL does not appear to be essential for the survival of blood-stage forms, ectodomains M1 and M2, homologous to AMA1, seem to be involved in parasite attachment to erythrocytes, especially M2. MAEBL is necessary for sporozoite infection of mosquito salivary glands and is expressed in liver stages. Here, the Plasmodium yoelii MAEBL-M2 domain was expressed in a prokaryotic vector. C57BL/6J mice were immunized with doses of P. yoelii recombinant protein rPyM2-MAEBL. High levels of antibodies, with balanced IgG1 and IgG2c subclasses, were achieved. rPyM2-MAEBL antisera were capable of recognizing the native antigen. Anti-MAEBL antibodies recognized different MAEBL fragments expressed in CHO cells, showing stronger IgM and IgG responses to the M2 domain and repeat region, respectively. After a challenge with P. yoelii YM (lethal strain)-infected erythrocytes (IE), up to 90% of the immunized animals survived and a reduction of parasitemia was observed. Moreover, splenocytes harvested from immunized animals proliferated in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of rPyM2-MAEBL. Protection was highly dependent on CD4(+), but not CD8(+), T cells toward Th1. rPyM2-MAEBL antisera were also able to significantly inhibit parasite development, as observed in ex vivo P. yoelii erythrocyte invasion assays. Collectively, these findings support the use of MAEBL as a vaccine candidate and open perspectives to understand the mechanisms involved in protection.
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35
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Bloxham WH, Hennek JW, Kumar AA, Whitesides GM. Fractionating Polymer Microspheres as Highly Accurate Density Standards. Anal Chem 2015; 87:7485-91. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b01932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William H. Bloxham
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford
St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department
of Physics, Harvard University, 17 Oxford St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Jonathan W. Hennek
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford
St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Ashok A. Kumar
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford
St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - George M. Whitesides
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford
St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Wyss
Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 60 Oxford St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Kavli
Institute for Bionano Science and Technology, Harvard University, 29 Oxford St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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36
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Sinha A, Chu TTT, Dao M, Chandramohanadas R. Single-cell evaluation of red blood cell bio-mechanical and nano-structural alterations upon chemically induced oxidative stress. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9768. [PMID: 25950144 PMCID: PMC4423428 DOI: 10.1038/srep09768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythroid cells, specifically red blood cells (RBCs), are constantly exposed to highly reactive radicals during cellular gaseous exchange. Such exposure often exceeds the cells' innate anti-oxidant defense systems, leading to progressive damage and eventual senescence. One of the contributing factors to this process are alterations to hemoglobin conformation and globin binding to red cell cytoskeleton. However, in addition to the aforementioned changes, it is possible that oxidative damage induces critical changes to the erythrocyte cytoskeleton and corresponding bio-mechanical and nano-structural properties of the red cell membrane. To quantitatively characterize how oxidative damage accounts for such changes, we employed single-cell manipulation techniques such as micropipette aspiration and atomic force microscopy (AFM) on RBCs. These investigations demonstrated visible morphological changes upon chemically induced oxidative damage (using hydrogen peroxide, diamide, primaquine bisphosphate and cumene hydroperoxide). Our results provide previously unavailable observations on remarkable changes in red cell cytoskeletal architecture and membrane stiffness due to oxidative damage. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that a pathogen that infects human blood cells, Plasmodium falciparum was unable to penetrate through the oxidant-exposed RBCs that have damaged cytoskeleton and stiffer membranes. This indicates the importance of bio-physical factors pertinent to aged RBCs and it's relevance to malaria infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameya Sinha
- 1] Engineering Product Development (EPD) Pillar, Singapore University of Technology &Design (SUTD), Singapore [2] Interdisciplinary Research Group of Infectious Diseases, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research &Technology Centre (SMART), Singapore
| | - Trang T T Chu
- Engineering Product Development (EPD) Pillar, Singapore University of Technology &Design (SUTD), Singapore
| | - Ming Dao
- 1] Interdisciplinary Research Group of Infectious Diseases, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research &Technology Centre (SMART), Singapore [2] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge-Massachusetts, U.S.A
| | - Rajesh Chandramohanadas
- Engineering Product Development (EPD) Pillar, Singapore University of Technology &Design (SUTD), Singapore
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Squalestatin is an inhibitor of carotenoid biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:3180-8. [PMID: 25779575 DOI: 10.1128/aac.04500-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing resistance of malaria parasites to almost all available drugs calls for the characterization of novel targets and the identification of new compounds. Carotenoids are polyisoprenoids from plants, algae, and some bacteria, and they are biosynthesized by Plasmodium falciparum but not by mammalian cells. Biochemical and reverse genetics approaches were applied to demonstrate that phytoene synthase (PSY) is a key enzyme for carotenoid biosynthesis in P. falciparum and is essential for intraerythrocytic growth. The known PSY inhibitor squalestatin reduces biosynthesis of phytoene and kills parasites during the intraerythrocytic cycle. PSY-overexpressing parasites showed increased biosynthesis of phytoene and its derived product phytofluene and presented a squalestatin-resistant phenotype, suggesting that this enzyme is the primary target of action of this drug in the parasite.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective upstream preparation of nucleic acid (NA) is important for molecular techniques that detect unique DNA or RNA sequences. The isolated NA should be extracted efficiently and purified away from inhibitors of a downstream molecular assay. CONTENT Many NA sample preparation techniques and commercial kits are available. Techniques for cell lysis and isolation or purification of NA were discovered in early NA characterization studies, evolved in the 20th century with molecular techniques, and still serve as the foundation for current methods. Advances in solid phase extraction methods with nonhazardous chemicals and automated systems have changed the way NA is prepared. Factors to consider when selecting NA preparation methods for molecular detection include lysis (from sources as diverse as human cells, viruses, bacterial spores, or protozoan oocysts), DNA vs RNA, sample background, appropriate preparation chemicals, and required detection limits. Methods are also selected on the basis of requirements for a particular application, such as sample volume or removal of inhibitors. Sometimes tradeoffs are made. SUMMARY Good automated and manual methods are available to effectively prepare NA for molecular detection in under an hour. Numerous systems are available for various applications, including techniques that are flexible for multiple sample types, are capable of processing large batches, can be performed in <10 min, or that can yield high-purity NA. When methods are selected using the most applicable combination of lysis isolation efficiency and concentration, NA preparation can be very effective, even for molecular detection of multiple targets from the same sample.
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Xie SC, Dogovski C, Kenny S, Tilley L, Klonis N. Optimal assay design for determining the in vitro sensitivity of ring stage Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinins. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:893-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Mata-Cantero L, Lafuente MJ, Sanz L, Rodriguez MS. Magnetic isolation of Plasmodium falciparum schizonts iRBCs to generate a high parasitaemia and synchronized in vitro culture. Malar J 2014; 13:112. [PMID: 24655321 PMCID: PMC3994429 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The establishment of methods for an in vitro continuous culture of Plasmodium falciparum is essential for gaining knowledge into its biology and for the development of new treatments. Previously, several techniques have been used to synchronize, enrich and concentrate P. falciparum, although obtaining cultures with high parasitaemia continues being a challenging process. Current methods produce high parasitaemia levels of synchronized P. falciparum cultures by frequent changes of culture medium or reducing the haematocrit. However, these methods are time consuming and sometimes lead to the loss of synchrony. METHODS A procedure that combines Percoll and sorbitol treatments, the use of magnetic columns, and the optimization of the in vitro culture conditions to reach high parasitaemia levels for synchronized Plasmodium falciparum cultures is described. RESULTS A new procedure has been established using P. falciparum 3D7, combining previous reported methodologies to achieve in vitro parasite cultures that reach parasitaemia up to 40% at any intra-erythrocytic stage. High parasitaemia levels are obtained only one day after magnetic column purification without compromising the parasite viability and synchrony. CONCLUSIONS The described procedure allows obtaining a large scale synchronized parasite culture at a high parasitaemia with less manipulations than other methods previously described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Mata-Cantero
- Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
- Proteomics Unit, CICbioGUNE Ed. 801A Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Maria J Lafuente
- Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sanz
- Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel S Rodriguez
- Proteomics Unit, CICbioGUNE Ed. 801A Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain
- Ubiquitylation and Cancer Molecular Biology, Inbiomed, Mikeletegi 81, 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
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Macrae JI, Lopaticki S, Maier AG, Rupasinghe T, Nahid A, Cowman AF, McConville MJ. Plasmodium falciparum is dependent on de novo myo-inositol biosynthesis for assembly of GPI glycolipids and infectivity. Mol Microbiol 2014; 91:762-76. [PMID: 24350823 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Intra-erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, are thought to be dependent on de novo synthesis of phosphatidylinositol, as red blood cells (RBC) lack the capacity to synthesize this phospholipid. The myo-inositol headgroup of PI can either be synthesized de novo or scavenged from the RBC. An untargeted metabolite profiling of P. falciparum infected RBC showed that trophozoite and schizont stages accumulate high levels of myo-inositol-3-phosphate, indicating increased de novo biosynthesis of myo-inositol from glucose 6-phosphate. Metabolic labelling studies with (13) C-U-glucose in the presence and absence of exogenous inositol confirmed that de novo myo-inositol synthesis occurs in parallel with myo-inositol salvage pathways. Unexpectedly, while both endogenous and scavenged myo-inositol was used to synthesize bulk PI, only de novo-synthesized myo-inositol was incorporated into GPI glycolipids. Moreover, gene disruption studies suggested that the INO1 gene, encoding myo-inositol 3-phosphate synthase, is essential in asexual parasite stages. Together these findings suggest that P. falciparum asexual stages are critically dependent on de novo myo-inositol biosynthesis for assembly of a sub-pool of PI species and GPI biosynthesis. These findings highlight unexpected complexity in phospholipid biosynthesis in P. falciparum and a lack of redundancy in some nutrient salvage versus endogenous biosynthesis pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- James I Macrae
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, 30 Flemington Road, Melbourne, Vic., 3010, Australia
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Storm J, Sethia S, Blackburn GJ, Chokkathukalam A, Watson DG, Breitling R, Coombs GH, Müller S. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase identified as a key enzyme in erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum carbon metabolism. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1003876. [PMID: 24453970 PMCID: PMC3894211 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Phospoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is absent from humans but encoded in the Plasmodium falciparum genome, suggesting that PEPC has a parasite-specific function. To investigate its importance in P. falciparum, we generated a pepc null mutant (D10Δpepc), which was only achievable when malate, a reduction product of oxaloacetate, was added to the growth medium. D10Δpepc had a severe growth defect in vitro, which was partially reversed by addition of malate or fumarate, suggesting that pepc may be essential in vivo. Targeted metabolomics using 13C-U-D-glucose and 13C-bicarbonate showed that the conversion of glycolytically-derived PEP into malate, fumarate, aspartate and citrate was abolished in D10Δpepc and that pentose phosphate pathway metabolites and glycerol 3-phosphate were present at increased levels. In contrast, metabolism of the carbon skeleton of 13C,15N-U-glutamine was similar in both parasite lines, although the flux was lower in D10Δpepc; it also confirmed the operation of a complete forward TCA cycle in the wild type parasite. Overall, these data confirm the CO2 fixing activity of PEPC and suggest that it provides metabolites essential for TCA cycle anaplerosis and the maintenance of cytosolic and mitochondrial redox balance. Moreover, these findings imply that PEPC may be an exploitable target for future drug discovery. The genome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum encodes a protein called phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) absent from the human host. PEPC is known to fix CO2 to generate metabolites used for energy metabolism in plants and bacteria, but its function in malaria parasites remained an enigma. Our study aimed to elucidate the role and importance of PEPC in P. falciparum in its host red blood cell by generating a gene deletion mutant in P. falciparum. This was only achievable in the presence of high concentrations of malate were added to the culture medium. The mutant generated (D10Δpepc) had a severe growth defect, which was rescued partially by malate or fumarate (but not any other downstream metabolites), suggesting that they feed into the same metabolic pathway. Using heavy isotope labelled 13C-U-D-glucose and 13C-bicarbonate we showed that PECP has an important role in intermediary carbon metabolism and is vital for the maintenance of cytosolic and mitochondrial redox balance. Together these findings imply that PEPC may be an exploitable target for future drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Storm
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sonal Sethia
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin J. Blackburn
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences; University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - David G. Watson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences; University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Graham H. Coombs
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences; University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sylke Müller
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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le Roux D, Burger PB, Niemand J, Grobler A, Urbán P, Fernàndez-Busquets X, Barker RH, Serrano AE, I Louw A, Birkholtz LM. Novel S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase inhibitors as potent antiproliferative agents against intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum parasites. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2013; 4:28-36. [PMID: 24596666 PMCID: PMC3940083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2013.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
S-adenosyl-l-methionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) in the polyamine biosynthesis pathway has been identified as a suitable drug target in Plasmodium falciparum parasites, which causes the most lethal form of malaria. Derivatives of an irreversible inhibitor of this enzyme, 5'-{[(Z)-4-amino-2-butenyl]methylamino}-5'-deoxyadenosine (MDL73811), have been developed with improved pharmacokinetic profiles and activity against related parasites, Trypanosoma brucei. Here, these derivatives were assayed for inhibition of AdoMetDC from P. falciparum parasites and the methylated derivative, 8-methyl-5'-{[(Z)-4-aminobut-2-enyl]methylamino}-5'-deoxyadenosine (Genz-644131) was shown to be the most active. The in vitro efficacy of Genz-644131 was markedly increased by nanoencapsulation in immunoliposomes, which specifically targeted intraerythrocytic P. falciparum parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina le Roux
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Pieter B Burger
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Jandeli Niemand
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Anne Grobler
- DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
| | - Patricia Urbán
- Nanobioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona E08028, Spain ; Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Rosselló 149-153, Barcelona E08036, Spain ; Biomolecular Interactions Team, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, Barcelona E08028, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Nanobioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona E08028, Spain ; Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Rosselló 149-153, Barcelona E08036, Spain ; Biomolecular Interactions Team, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, Barcelona E08028, Spain
| | - Robert H Barker
- Genzyme Corporation, 153 Second Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | - Adelfa E Serrano
- University of Puerto Rico-School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan PR 00936-5067, Puerto Rico
| | - Abraham I Louw
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
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Phospholipid membrane-mediated hemozoin formation: the effects of physical properties and evidence of membrane surrounding hemozoin. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70025. [PMID: 23894579 PMCID: PMC3720957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Phospholipid membranes are thought to be one of the main inducers of hemozoin formation in Plasmodia and other blood-feeding parasites. The “membrane surrounding hemozoin” has been observed in infected cells but has not been observed in in vitro experiments. This study focused on observing the association of phospholipid membranes and synthetic β-hematin, which is chemically identical to hemozoin, and on a further exploration into the mechanism of phospholipid membrane-induced β-hematin formation. Our results showed that β-hematin formation was induced by phospholipids in the fluid phase but not in the gel phase. The ability of phospholipids to induce β-hematin formation was inversely correlated with gel-to-liquid phase transition temperatures, suggesting an essential insertion of heme into the hydrocarbon chains of the phospholipid membrane to form β-hematin. For this study, a cryogenic transmission electron microscope was used to achieve the first direct observation of the formation of a monolayer of phospholipid membrane surrounding β-hematin.
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Jordão FM, Gabriel HB, Alves JMP, Angeli CB, Bifano TD, Breda A, de Azevedo MF, Basso LA, Wunderlich G, Kimura EA, Katzin AM. Cloning and characterization of bifunctional enzyme farnesyl diphosphate/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2013; 12:184. [PMID: 23734739 PMCID: PMC3679732 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Isoprenoids are the most diverse and abundant group of natural products. In Plasmodium falciparum, isoprenoid synthesis proceeds through the methyl erythritol diphosphate pathway and the products are further metabolized by farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS), turning this enzyme into a key branch point of the isoprenoid synthesis. Changes in FPPS activity could alter the flux of isoprenoid compounds downstream of FPPS and, hence, play a central role in the regulation of a number of essential functions in Plasmodium parasites. Methods The isolation and cloning of gene PF3D7_18400 was done by amplification from cDNA from mixed stage parasites of P. falciparum. After sequencing, the fragment was subcloned in pGEX2T for recombinant protein expression. To verify if the PF3D7_1128400 gene encodes a functional rPfFPPS protein, its catalytic activity was assessed using the substrate [4-14C] isopentenyl diphosphate and three different allylic substrates: dimethylallyl diphosphate, geranyl diphosphate or farnesyl diphosphate. The reaction products were identified by thin layer chromatography and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. To confirm the product spectrum formed of rPfFPPS, isoprenic compounds were also identified by mass spectrometry. Apparent kinetic constants KM and Vmax for each substrate were determined by Michaelis–Menten; also, inhibition assays were performed using risedronate. Results The expressed protein of P. falciparum FPPS (rPfFPPS) catalyzes the synthesis of farnesyl diphosphate, as well as geranylgeranyl diphosphate, being therefore a bifunctional FPPS/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) enzyme. The apparent KM values for the substrates dimethylallyl diphosphate, geranyl diphosphate and farnesyl diphosphate were, respectively, 68 ± 5 μM, 7.8 ± 1.3 μM and 2.06 ± 0.4 μM. The protein is expressed constitutively in all intra-erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum, demonstrated by using transgenic parasites with a haemagglutinin-tagged version of FPPS. Also, the present data demonstrate that the recombinant protein is inhibited by risedronate. Conclusions The rPfFPPS is a bifunctional FPPS/GGPPS enzyme and the structure of products FOH and GGOH were confirmed mass spectrometry. Plasmodial FPPS represents a potential target for the rational design of chemotherapeutic agents to treat malaria.
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Shi H, Liu Z, Li A, Yin J, Chong AGL, Tan KSW, Zhang Y, Lim CT. Life cycle-dependent cytoskeletal modifications in Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61170. [PMID: 23585879 PMCID: PMC3621960 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum infection of human erythrocytes is known to result in the modification of the host cell cytoskeleton by parasite-coded proteins. However, such modifications and corresponding implications in malaria pathogenesis have not been fully explored. Here, we probed the gradual modification of infected erythrocyte cytoskeleton with advancing stages of infection using atomic force microscopy (AFM). We reported a novel strategy to derive accurate and quantitative information on the knob structures and their connections with the spectrin network by performing AFM-based imaging analysis of the cytoplasmic surface of infected erythrocytes. Significant changes on the red cell cytoskeleton were observed from the expansion of spectrin network mesh size, extension of spectrin tetramers and the decrease of spectrin abundance with advancing stages of infection. The spectrin network appeared to aggregate around knobs but also appeared sparser at non-knob areas as the parasite matured. This dramatic modification of the erythrocyte skeleton during the advancing stage of malaria infection could contribute to the loss of deformability of the infected erythrocyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Shi
- Nano Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Infrastructure System Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ang Li
- Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jing Yin
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alvin G. L. Chong
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kevin S. W. Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yong Zhang
- Nano Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Nano Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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Galizi R, Spano F, Giubilei MA, Capuccini B, Magini A, Urbanelli L, Ogawa T, Dubey JP, Spaccapelo R, Emiliani C, Di Cristina M. Evidence of tRNA cleavage in apicomplexan parasites: Half-tRNAs as new potential regulatory molecules of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium berghei. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2013; 188:99-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2013.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Revised: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Coronado LM, Tayler NM, Correa R, Giovani RM, Spadafora C. Separation of Plasmodium falciparum late stage-infected erythrocytes by magnetic means. J Vis Exp 2013:e50342. [PMID: 23486405 DOI: 10.3791/50342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike other Plasmodium species, P. falciparum can be cultured in the lab, which facilitates its study (1). While the parasitemia achieved can reach the ≈40% limit, the investigator usually keeps the percentage at around 10%. In many cases it is necessary to isolate the parasite-containing red blood cells (RBCs) from the uninfected ones, to enrich the culture and proceed with a given experiment. When P. falciparum infects the erythrocyte, the parasite degrades and feeds from haemoglobin (2, 3). However, the parasite must deal with a very toxic iron-containing haem moiety (4, 5). The parasite eludes its toxicity by transforming the haem into an inert crystal polymer called haemozoin (6, 7). This iron-containing molecule is stored in its food vacuole and the metal in it has an oxidative state which differs from the one in haem (8). The ferric state of iron in the haemozoin confers on it a paramagnetic property absent in uninfected erythrocytes. As the invading parasite reaches maturity, the content of haemozoin also increases (9), which bestows even more paramagnetism on the latest stages of P. falciparum inside the erythrocyte. Based on this paramagnetic property, the latest stages of P. falciparum infected-red blood cells can be separated by passing the culture through a column containing magnetic beads. These beads become magnetic when the columns containing them are placed on a magnet holder. Infected RBCs, due to their paramagnetism, will then be trapped inside the column, while the flow-through will contain, for the most part, uninfected erythrocytes and those containing early stages of the parasite. Here, we describe the methodology to enrich the population of late stage parasites with magnetic columns, which maintains good parasite viability (10). After performing this procedure, the unattached culture can be returned to an incubator to allow the remaining parasites to continue growing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Michelle Coronado
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama
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Pasini EM, Braks JA, Fonager J, Klop O, Aime E, Spaccapelo R, Otto TD, Berriman M, Hiss JA, Thomas AW, Mann M, Janse CJ, Kocken CHM, Franke-Fayard B. Proteomic and genetic analyses demonstrate that Plasmodium berghei blood stages export a large and diverse repertoire of proteins. Mol Cell Proteomics 2012. [PMID: 23197789 PMCID: PMC3567864 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m112.021238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites actively remodel the infected red blood cell (irbc) by exporting proteins into the host cell cytoplasm. The human parasite Plasmodium falciparum exports particularly large numbers of proteins, including proteins that establish a vesicular network allowing the trafficking of proteins onto the surface of irbcs that are responsible for tissue sequestration. Like P. falciparum, the rodent parasite P. berghei ANKA sequesters via irbc interactions with the host receptor CD36. We have applied proteomic, genomic, and reverse-genetic approaches to identify P. berghei proteins potentially involved in the transport of proteins to the irbc surface. A comparative proteomics analysis of P. berghei non-sequestering and sequestering parasites was used to determine changes in the irbc membrane associated with sequestration. Subsequent tagging experiments identified 13 proteins (Plasmodium export element (PEXEL)-positive as well as PEXEL-negative) that are exported into the irbc cytoplasm and have distinct localization patterns: a dispersed and/or patchy distribution, a punctate vesicle-like pattern in the cytoplasm, or a distinct location at the irbc membrane. Members of the PEXEL-negative BIR and PEXEL-positive Pb-fam-3 show a dispersed localization in the irbc cytoplasm, but not at the irbc surface. Two of the identified exported proteins are transported to the irbc membrane and were named erythrocyte membrane associated proteins. EMAP1 is a member of the PEXEL-negative Pb-fam-1 family, and EMAP2 is a PEXEL-positive protein encoded by a single copy gene; neither protein plays a direct role in sequestration. Our observations clearly indicate that P. berghei traffics a diverse range of proteins to different cellular locations via mechanisms that are analogous to those employed by P. falciparum. This information can be exploited to generate transgenic humanized rodent P. berghei parasites expressing chimeric P. berghei/P. falciparum proteins on the surface of rodent irbc, thereby opening new avenues for in vivo screening adjunct therapies that block sequestration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica M Pasini
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
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Screening and Evaluation of Inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Egress and Invasion Using Cytometry. Methods Mol Biol 2012. [PMID: 22990802 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-026-7_36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
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