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Nhim S, Tintó-Font E, Casas-Vila N, Michel-Todó L, Cortés A. Heterochromatin dynamics during the initial stages of sexual development in Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Rep 2024; 14:23180. [PMID: 39369041 PMCID: PMC11455859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73981-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Asexual replication of Plasmodium falciparum in the human blood results in exponential parasite growth and causes all clinical symptoms of malaria. However, at each round of the replicative cycle, some parasites convert into sexual precursors called gametocytes, which develop through different stages until they become infective to mosquito vectors. The genome-wide distribution of heterochromatin, a type of chromatin generally refractory to gene expression, is identical at all asexual blood stages, but is altered in stage II/III and more mature gametocytes. However, it is not known if these changes occur concomitantly with sexual conversion or at a later time during gametocyte development. Using a transgenic line in which massive sexual conversion can be conditionally induced, we show that the genome-wide distribution of heterochromatin at the initial stages of sexual development (i.e., sexual rings and stage I gametocytes) is almost identical to asexual blood stages, and major changes do not occur until stage II/III. However, we found that at loci with heterochromatin alterations, transcriptional changes associated with sexual development typically precede, rather than follow, changes in heterochromatin occupancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Nhim
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Tintó-Font
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Casas-Vila
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucas Michel-Todó
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfred Cortés
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
- Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
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2
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Pilling OA, Sundararaman SA, Brisson D, Beiting DP. Turning the needle into the haystack: Culture-independent amplification of complex microbial genomes directly from their native environment. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012418. [PMID: 39264872 PMCID: PMC11392400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has revolutionized microbiology, but many microbes exist at low abundance in their natural environment and/or are difficult, if not impossible, to culture in the laboratory. This makes it challenging to use HTS to study the genomes of many important microbes and pathogens. In this review, we discuss the development and application of selective whole genome amplification (SWGA) to allow whole or partial genomes to be sequenced for low abundance microbes directly from complex biological samples. We highlight ways in which genomic data generated by SWGA have been used to elucidate the population dynamics of important human pathogens and monitor development of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of potential outbreaks. We also describe the limitations of this method and propose some potential innovations that could be used to improve the quality of SWGA and lower the barriers to using this method across a wider range of infectious pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia A Pilling
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sesh A Sundararaman
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Dustin Brisson
- Department of Biology, School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Daniel P Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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3
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McConville R, Krol JMM, Steel RWJ, O’Neill MT, Davey BK, Hodder AN, Nebl T, Cowman AF, Kneteman N, Boddey JA. Flp/ FRT-mediated disruption of ptex150 and exp2 in Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites inhibits liver-stage development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403442121. [PMID: 38968107 PMCID: PMC11252984 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403442121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes severe malaria and assembles a protein translocon (PTEX) complex at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) of infected erythrocytes, through which several hundred proteins are exported to facilitate growth. The preceding liver stage of infection involves growth in a hepatocyte-derived PVM; however, the importance of protein export during P. falciparum liver infection remains unexplored. Here, we use the FlpL/FRT system to conditionally excise genes in P. falciparum sporozoites for functional liver-stage studies. Disruption of PTEX members ptex150 and exp2 did not affect sporozoite development in mosquitoes or infectivity for hepatocytes but attenuated liver-stage growth in humanized mice. While PTEX150 deficiency reduced fitness on day 6 postinfection by 40%, EXP2 deficiency caused 100% loss of liver parasites, demonstrating that PTEX components are required for growth in hepatocytes to differing degrees. To characterize PTEX loss-of-function mutations, we localized four liver-stage Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) proteins. P. falciparum liver specific protein 2 (LISP2), liver-stage antigen 3 (LSA3), circumsporozoite protein (CSP), and a Plasmodium berghei LISP2 reporter all localized to the periphery of P. falciparum liver stages but were not exported beyond the PVM. Expression of LISP2 and CSP but not LSA3 was reduced in ptex150-FRT and exp2-FRT liver stages, suggesting that expression of some PEXEL proteins is affected directly or indirectly by PTEX disruption. These results show that PTEX150 and EXP2 are important for P. falciparum development in hepatocytes and emphasize the emerging complexity of PEXEL protein trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn McConville
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Jelte M. M. Krol
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Ryan W. J. Steel
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Matthew T. O’Neill
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Bethany K. Davey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Anthony N. Hodder
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Thomas Nebl
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Norman Kneteman
- Departments of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, ABT6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Justin A. Boddey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
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4
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Fierro MA, Muheljic A, Sha J, Wohlschlegel J, Beck JR. PEXEL is a proteolytic maturation site for both exported and non-exported Plasmodium proteins. mSphere 2024; 9:e0039323. [PMID: 38334391 PMCID: PMC10900883 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00393-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Obligate intracellular malaria parasites dramatically remodel their erythrocyte host through effector protein export to create a niche for survival. Most exported proteins contain a pentameric Plasmodium export element (PEXEL)/host-targeting motif that is cleaved in the parasite ER by the aspartic protease Plasmepsin V (PMV). This processing event exposes a mature N terminus required for translocation into the host cell and is not known to occur in non-exported proteins. Here, we report that the non-exported parasitophorous vacuole protein UIS2 contains a bona fide PEXEL motif that is processed in the P. falciparum blood stage. While the N termini of exported proteins containing the PEXEL and immediately downstream ~10 residues are sufficient to mediate translocation into the RBC, the equivalent UIS2 N terminus does not promote the export of a reporter. Curiously, the UIS2 PEXEL contains an unusual aspartic acid at the fourth position, which constitutes the extreme N-terminal residue following PEXEL cleavage (P1', RIL↓DE). Using a series of chimeric reporter fusions, we show that Asp at P1' is permissive for PMV processing but abrogates export. Moreover, mutation of this single UIS2 residue to alanine enables export, reinforcing that the mature N terminus mediates export, not PEXEL processing per se. Prompted by this observation, we further show that PEXEL sequences in the N termini of other non-exported rhoptry proteins are also processed, suggesting that PMV may be a more general secretory maturase than previously appreciated, similar to orthologs in related apicomplexans. Our findings provide new insight into the unique N-terminal constraints that mark proteins for export.IMPORTANCEHost erythrocyte remodeling by malaria parasite-exported effector proteins is critical to parasite survival and disease pathogenesis. In the deadliest malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, most exported proteins undergo proteolytic maturation via recognition of the pentameric Plasmodium export element (PEXEL)/host-targeting motif by the aspartic protease Plasmepsin V, which exposes a mature N terminus that is conducive for export into the erythrocyte host cell. While PEXEL processing is considered a unique mark of exported proteins, we demonstrate that PEXEL motifs are present and processed in non-exported proteins. Importantly, we show that specific residues at the variable fourth position of the PEXEL motif inhibit export despite being permissive for processing, reinforcing that features of the mature N terminus, and not PEXEL cleavage, identify cargo for export. This opens the door to further inquiry into the nature and evolution of the PEXEL motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A. Fierro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, lowa, USA
| | - Ajla Muheljic
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - James Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, lowa, USA
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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5
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Fréville A, Ressurreição M, van Ooij C. Identification of a non-exported Plasmepsin V substrate that functions in the parasitophorous vacuole of malaria parasites. mBio 2024; 15:e0122323. [PMID: 38078758 PMCID: PMC10790765 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01223-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In the manuscript, the authors investigate the role of the protease Plasmepsin V in the parasite-host interaction. Whereas processing by Plasmepsin V was previously thought to target a protein for export into the host cell, the authors now show that there are proteins cleaved by this protease that are not exported but instead function at the host-parasite interface. This changes the view of this protease, which turns out to have a much broader role than anticipated. The result shows that the protease may have a function much more similar to that of related organisms. The authors also investigate the requirements for protein export by analyzing exported and non-exported proteins and find commonalities between the proteins of each set that further our understanding of the requirements for protein export.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Fréville
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Margarida Ressurreição
- 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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6
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Kaur J, Mishra PC, Hora R. Molecular Players at the Sorting Stations of Malaria Parasite 'Plasmodium falciparum'. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2024; 25:427-437. [PMID: 38409726 DOI: 10.2174/0113892037282522240130090156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The apicomplexan pathogenic parasite 'Plasmodium falciparum' (Pf) is responsible for most of the malaria related mortality. It resides in and refurbishes the infected red blood cells (iRBCs) for its own survival and to suffice its metabolic needs. Remodeling of host erythrocytes involves alteration of physical and biochemical properties of the membrane and genesis of new parasite induced structures within the iRBCs. The generated structures include knobs and solute ion channels on the erythrocyte surface and specialized organelles i.e. Maurer's clefts (MCs) in the iRBC cytosol. The above processes are mediated by exporting a large repertoire of proteins to the host cell, most of which are transported via MCs, the sorting stations in parasitized erythrocytes. Information about MC biogenesis and the molecules involved in maintaining MC architecture remains incompletely elucidated. Here, we have compiled a list of experimentally known MC resident proteins, several of which have roles in maintaining its architecture and function. Our short review covers available data on the domain organization, orthologues, topology and specific roles of these proteins. We highlight the current knowledge gaps in our understanding of MCs as crucial organelles involved in parasite biology and disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasweer Kaur
- Department of Biochemistry, Govt. College for Girls, Ludhiana, Punjab, India (Affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh), India
| | | | - Rachna Hora
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Punjab, India
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7
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Gabriela M, Barnes CBG, Leong D, Sleebs BE, Schneider MP, Littler DR, Crabb BS, de Koning‐Ward TF, Gilson PR. Sequence elements within the PEXEL motif and its downstream region modulate PTEX-dependent protein export in Plasmodium falciparum. Traffic 2024; 25:e12922. [PMID: 37926971 PMCID: PMC10952997 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of malaria and to invade and replicate in red blood cells (RBCs), it exports hundreds of proteins across the encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) into this host cell. The exported proteins help modify the RBC to support rapid parasite growth and avoidance of the human immune system. Most exported proteins possess a conserved Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif with the consensus RxLxE/D/Q amino acid sequence, which acts as a proteolytic cleavage recognition site within the parasite's endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cleavage occurs after the P1 L residue and is thought to help release the protein from the ER so it can be putatively escorted by the HSP101 chaperone to the parasitophorous vacuole space surrounding the intraerythrocytic parasite. HSP101 and its cargo are then thought to assemble with the rest of a Plasmodium translocon for exported proteins (PTEX) complex, that then recognises the xE/D/Q capped N-terminus of the exported protein and translocates it across the vacuole membrane into the RBC compartment. Here, we present evidence that supports a dual role for the PEXEL's conserved P2 ' position E/Q/D residue, first, for plasmepsin V cleavage in the ER, and second, for efficient PTEX mediated export across the PVM into the RBC. We also present evidence that the downstream 'spacer' region separating the PEXEL motif from the folded functional region of the exported protein controls cargo interaction with PTEX as well. The spacer must be of a sufficient length and permissive amino acid composition to engage the HSP101 unfoldase component of PTEX to be efficiently translocated into the RBC compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- School of MedicineDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Claudia B. G. Barnes
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Dickson Leong
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Dene R. Littler
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of ImmunologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Tania F. de Koning‐Ward
- School of MedicineDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT)Deakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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8
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Siau A, Ang JW, Sheriff O, Hoo R, Loh HP, Tay D, Huang X, Yam XY, Lai SK, Meng W, Julca I, Kwan SS, Mutwil M, Preiser PR. Comparative spatial proteomics of Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113419. [PMID: 37952150 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites contribute to one of the highest global infectious disease burdens. To achieve this success, the parasite has evolved a range of specialized subcellular compartments to extensively remodel the host cell for its survival. The information to fully understand these compartments is likely hidden in the so far poorly characterized Plasmodium species spatial proteome. To address this question, we determined the steady-state subcellular location of more than 12,000 parasite proteins across five different species by extensive subcellular fractionation of erythrocytes infected by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium yoelii, Plasmodium berghei, and Plasmodium chabaudi. This comparison of the pan-species spatial proteomes and their expression patterns indicates increasing species-specific proteins associated with the more external compartments, supporting host adaptations and post-transcriptional regulation. The spatial proteome offers comprehensive insight into the different human, simian, and rodent Plasmodium species, establishing a powerful resource for understanding species-specific host adaptation processes in the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Siau
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Jing Wen Ang
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Omar Sheriff
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Regina Hoo
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Han Ping Loh
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Donald Tay
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Ximei Huang
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Xue Yan Yam
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Soak Kuan Lai
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Wei Meng
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Irene Julca
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Sze Siu Kwan
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Marek Mutwil
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Peter R Preiser
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
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9
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Bailey BL, Nguyen W, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. Chemo-proteomics in antimalarial target identification and engagement. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:2303-2351. [PMID: 37232495 PMCID: PMC10947479 DOI: 10.1002/med.21975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Humans have lived in tenuous battle with malaria over millennia. Today, while much of the world is free of the disease, areas of South America, Asia, and Africa still wage this war with substantial impacts on their social and economic development. The threat of widespread resistance to all currently available antimalarial therapies continues to raise concern. Therefore, it is imperative that novel antimalarial chemotypes be developed to populate the pipeline going forward. Phenotypic screening has been responsible for the majority of the new chemotypes emerging in the past few decades. However, this can result in limited information on the molecular target of these compounds which may serve as an unknown variable complicating their progression into clinical development. Target identification and validation is a process that incorporates techniques from a range of different disciplines. Chemical biology and more specifically chemo-proteomics have been heavily utilized for this purpose. This review provides an in-depth summary of the application of chemo-proteomics in antimalarial development. Here we focus particularly on the methodology, practicalities, merits, and limitations of designing these experiments. Together this provides learnings on the future use of chemo-proteomics in antimalarial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brodie L. Bailey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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10
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Subudhi AK, Green JL, Satyam R, Salunke RP, Lenz T, Shuaib M, Isaioglou I, Abel S, Gupta M, Esau L, Mourier T, Nugmanova R, Mfarrej S, Shivapurkar R, Stead Z, Rached FB, Ostwal Y, Sougrat R, Dada A, Kadamany AF, Fischle W, Merzaban J, Knuepfer E, Ferguson DJP, Gupta I, Le Roch KG, Holder AA, Pain A. DNA-binding protein PfAP2-P regulates parasite pathogenesis during malaria parasite blood stages. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:2154-2169. [PMID: 37884813 PMCID: PMC10627835 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01497-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Malaria-associated pathogenesis such as parasite invasion, egress, host cell remodelling and antigenic variation requires concerted action by many proteins, but the molecular regulation is poorly understood. Here we have characterized an essential Plasmodium-specific Apicomplexan AP2 transcription factor in Plasmodium falciparum (PfAP2-P; pathogenesis) during the blood-stage development with two peaks of expression. An inducible knockout of gene function showed that PfAP2-P is essential for trophozoite development, and critical for var gene regulation, merozoite development and parasite egress. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data collected at timepoints matching the two peaks of pfap2-p expression demonstrate PfAP2-P binding to promoters of genes controlling trophozoite development, host cell remodelling, antigenic variation and pathogenicity. Single-cell RNA sequencing and fluorescence-activated cell sorting revealed de-repression of most var genes in Δpfap2-p parasites. Δpfap2-p parasites also overexpress early gametocyte marker genes, indicating a regulatory role in sexual stage conversion. We conclude that PfAP2-P is an essential upstream transcriptional regulator at two distinct stages of the intra-erythrocytic development cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Subudhi
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Judith L Green
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Rohit Satyam
- Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Rahul P Salunke
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Todd Lenz
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Muhammad Shuaib
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ioannis Isaioglou
- Cell Migration and Signaling Laboratory, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Mohit Gupta
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Luke Esau
- KAUST Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Raushan Nugmanova
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Sara Mfarrej
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rupali Shivapurkar
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Zenaida Stead
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Fathia Ben Rached
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Yogesh Ostwal
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biochemistry, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rachid Sougrat
- KAUST Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf Dada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Fuaad Kadamany
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Wolfgang Fischle
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biochemistry, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jasmeen Merzaban
- Cell Migration and Signaling Laboratory, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ellen Knuepfer
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Molecular and Cellular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - David J P Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Ishaan Gupta
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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11
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Hasan MM, Polino AJ, Mukherjee S, Vaupel B, Goldberg DE. The mature N-termini of Plasmodium effector proteins confer specificity of export. mBio 2023; 14:e0121523. [PMID: 37646514 PMCID: PMC10653839 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01215-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Malaria parasites export hundreds of proteins to the cytoplasm of the host red blood cells for their survival. A five amino acid sequence, called the PEXEL motif, is conserved among many exported proteins and is thought to be a signal for export. However, the motif is cleaved inside the endoplasmic reticulum of the parasite, and mature proteins starting from the fourth PEXEL residue travel to the parasite periphery for export. We showed that the PEXEL motif is dispensable for export as long as identical mature proteins can be efficiently produced via alternative means in the ER. We also showed that the exported and non-exported proteins are differentiated at the parasite periphery based on their mature N-termini; however, any discernible export signal within that region remained cryptic. Our study resolves a longstanding paradox in PEXEL protein trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad M. Hasan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alexander J. Polino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sumit Mukherjee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Barbara Vaupel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel E. Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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12
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Fierro MA, Hussain T, Campin LJ, Beck JR. Knock-sideways by inducible ER retrieval enables a unique approach for studying Plasmodium-secreted proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308676120. [PMID: 37552754 PMCID: PMC10433460 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308676120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites uniquely depend on protein secretion for their obligate intracellular lifestyle but approaches for dissecting Plasmodium-secreted protein functions are limited. We report knockER, a unique DiCre-mediated knock-sideways approach to sequester secreted proteins in the ER by inducible fusion with a KDEL ER-retrieval sequence. We show conditional ER sequestration of diverse proteins is not generally toxic, enabling loss-of-function studies. We employed knockER in multiple Plasmodium species to interrogate the trafficking, topology, and function of an assortment of proteins that traverse the secretory pathway to diverse compartments including the apicoplast (ClpB1), rhoptries (RON6), dense granules, and parasitophorous vacuole (EXP2, PTEX150, HSP101). Taking advantage of the unique ability to redistribute secreted proteins from their terminal destination to the ER, we reveal that vacuolar levels of the PTEX translocon component HSP101 but not PTEX150 are maintained in excess of what is required to sustain effector protein export into the erythrocyte. Intriguingly, vacuole depletion of HSP101 hypersensitized parasites to a destabilization tag that inhibits HSP101-PTEX complex formation but not to translational knockdown of the entire HSP101 pool, illustrating how redistribution of a target protein by knockER can be used to query function in a compartment-specific manner. Collectively, our results establish knockER as a unique tool for dissecting secreted protein function with subcompartmental resolution that should be widely amenable to genetically tractable eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A. Fierro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA50011
| | - Tahir Hussain
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA50011
| | - Liam J. Campin
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA50011
| | - Josh R. Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA50011
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA50011
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13
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Jonsdottir TK, Elsworth B, Cobbold S, Gabriela M, Ploeger E, Parkyn Schneider M, Charnaud SC, Dans MG, McConville M, Bullen HE, Crabb BS, Gilson PR. PTEX helps efficiently traffic haemoglobinases to the food vacuole in Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011006. [PMID: 37523385 PMCID: PMC10414648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011006] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A key element of Plasmodium biology and pathogenesis is the trafficking of ~10% of the parasite proteome into the host red blood cell (RBC) it infects. To cross the parasite-encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane, exported proteins utilise a channel-forming protein complex termed the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX). PTEX is obligatory for parasite survival, both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that at least some exported proteins have essential metabolic functions. However, to date only one essential PTEX-dependent process, the new permeability pathways, has been described. To identify other essential PTEX-dependant proteins/processes, we conditionally knocked down the expression of one of its core components, PTEX150, and examined which pathways were affected. Surprisingly, the food vacuole mediated process of haemoglobin (Hb) digestion was substantially perturbed by PTEX150 knockdown. Using a range of transgenic parasite lines and approaches, we show that two major Hb proteases; falcipain 2a and plasmepsin II, interact with PTEX core components, implicating the translocon in the trafficking of Hb proteases. We propose a model where these proteases are translocated into the PV via PTEX in order to reach the cytostome, located at the parasite periphery, prior to food vacuole entry. This work offers a second mechanistic explanation for why PTEX function is essential for growth of the parasite within its host RBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brendan Elsworth
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Simon Cobbold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Ellen Ploeger
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Sarah C. Charnaud
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Malcolm McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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14
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Parkyn Schneider M, Looker O, Rebelo M, Khoury DS, Dixon MWA, Oeuvray C, Crabb BS, McCarthy J, Gilson PR. The delayed bloodstream clearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites after M5717 treatment is attributable to the inability to modify their red blood cell hosts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1211613. [PMID: 37457953 PMCID: PMC10340534 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1211613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
M5717 is a promising antimalarial drug under development that acts against multiple stages of the life cycle of Plasmodium parasites by inhibiting the translation elongation factor 2 (PfeEF2), thereby preventing protein synthesis. The parasite clearance profile after drug treatment in preclinical studies in mice, and clinical trials in humans showed a notable delayed clearance phenotype whereby parasite infected red blood cells (iRBCs) persisted in the bloodstream for a significant period before eventual clearance. In a normal P. falciparum infection iRBCs sequester in the deep circulation by cytoadherence, allowing them to avoid surveillance and clearance in the spleen. We found that M5717 blocks parasite modification of their host red blood cells (RBCs) by preventing synthesis of new exported proteins, rather than by directly blocking the export of these proteins into the RBC compartment. Using in vitro models, we demonstrated that M5717 treated ring/trophozoite stage iRBCs became less rigid, and cytoadhered less well compared to untreated iRBCs. This indicates that in vivo persistence of M5717 treated iRBCs in the bloodstream is likely due to reduced cytoadherence and splenic clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Rebelo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David S. Khoury
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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15
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Subudhi AK, Green JL, Satyam R, Lenz T, Salunke RP, Shuaib M, Isaioglou I, Abel S, Gupta M, Esau L, Mourier T, Nugmanova R, Mfarrej S, Sivapurkar R, Stead Z, Rached FB, Otswal Y, Sougrat R, Dada A, Kadamany AF, Fischle W, Merzaban J, Knuepfer E, Ferguson DJP, Gupta I, Le Roch KG, Holder AA, Pain A. PfAP2-MRP DNA-binding protein is a master regulator of parasite pathogenesis during malaria parasite blood stages. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.23.541898. [PMID: 37293082 PMCID: PMC10245809 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.23.541898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Malaria pathogenicity results from the parasite's ability to invade, multiply within and then egress from the host red blood cell (RBC). Infected RBCs are remodeled, expressing antigenic variant proteins (such as PfEMP1, coded by the var gene family) for immune evasion and survival. These processes require the concerted actions of many proteins, but the molecular regulation is poorly understood. We have characterized an essential Plasmodium specific Apicomplexan AP2 (ApiAP2) transcription factor in Plasmodium falciparum (PfAP2-MRP; Master Regulator of Pathogenesis) during the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC). An inducible gene knockout approach showed that PfAP2-MRP is essential for development during the trophozoite stage, and critical for var gene regulation, merozoite development and parasite egress. ChIP-seq experiments performed at 16 hour post invasion (h.p.i.) and 40 h.p.i. matching the two peaks of PfAP2-MRP expression, demonstrate binding of PfAP2-MRP to the promoters of genes controlling trophozoite development and host cell remodeling at 16 h.p.i. and antigenic variation and pathogenicity at 40 h.p.i. Using single-cell RNA-seq and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, we show de-repression of most var genes in Δpfap2-mrp parasites that express multiple PfEMP1 proteins on the surface of infected RBCs. In addition, the Δpfap2-mrp parasites overexpress several early gametocyte marker genes at both 16 and 40 h.p.i., indicating a regulatory role in the sexual stage conversion. Using the Chromosomes Conformation Capture experiment (Hi-C), we demonstrate that deletion of PfAP2-MRP results in significant reduction of both intra-chromosomal and inter-chromosomal interactions in heterochromatin clusters. We conclude that PfAP2-MRP is a vital upstream transcriptional regulator controlling essential processes in two distinct developmental stages during the IDC that include parasite growth, chromatin structure and var gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Subudhi
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Judith L Green
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Rohit Satyam
- Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi, Delhi 110025, India
| | - Todd Lenz
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Rahul P Salunke
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Shuaib
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ioannis Isaioglou
- Cell Migration and Signaling Laboratory, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Mohit Gupta
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Luke Esau
- KAUST Core Labs, KAUST, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Raushan Nugmanova
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Sara Mfarrej
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rupali Sivapurkar
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Zenaida Stead
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Fathia Ben Rached
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Yogesh Otswal
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biochemistry, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rachid Sougrat
- KAUST Core Labs, KAUST, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf Dada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Fuaad Kadamany
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Wolfgang Fischle
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biochemistry, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jasmeen Merzaban
- Cell Migration and Signaling Laboratory, Bioscience Program, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ellen Knuepfer
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - David J P Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX1 2JD, United Kingdom
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ishaan Gupta
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control; Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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16
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Claessens A, Stewart LB, Drury E, Ahouidi AD, Amambua-Ngwa A, Diakite M, Kwiatkowski DP, Awandare GA, Conway DJ. Genomic variation during culture adaptation of genetically complex Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen001009. [PMID: 37204422 PMCID: PMC10272863 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental studies on the biology of malaria parasites have mostly been based on laboratory-adapted lines, but there is limited understanding of how these may differ from parasites in natural infections. Loss-of-function mutants have previously been shown to emerge during culture of some Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates in analyses focusing on single-genotype infections. The present study included a broader array of isolates, mostly representing multiple-genotype infections, which are more typical in areas where malaria is highly endemic. Genome sequence data from multiple time points over several months of culture adaptation of 28 West African isolates were analysed, including previously available sequences along with new genome sequences from additional isolates and time points. Some genetically complex isolates eventually became fixed over time to single surviving genotypes in culture, whereas others retained diversity, although proportions of genotypes varied over time. Drug resistance allele frequencies did not show overall directional changes, suggesting that resistance-associated costs are not the main causes of fitness differences among parasites in culture. Loss-of-function mutants emerged during culture in several of the multiple-genotype isolates, affecting genes (including AP2-HS, EPAC and SRPK1) for which loss-of-function mutants were previously seen to emerge in single-genotype isolates. Parasite clones were derived by limiting dilution from six of the isolates, and sequencing identified de novo variants not detected in the bulk isolate sequences. Interestingly, several of these were nonsense mutants and frameshifts disrupting the coding sequence of EPAC, the gene with the largest number of independent nonsense mutants previously identified in laboratory-adapted lines. Analysis of genomic identity by descent to explore relatedness among clones revealed co-occurring non-identical sibling parasites, illustrative of the natural genetic structure within endemic populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Claessens
- LPHI, MIVEGEC, INSERM, CNRS, IRD, University of Montpellier, France
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Lindsay B. Stewart
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | | | - Alfred Amambua-Ngwa
- MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Mahamadou Diakite
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Gordon A. Awandare
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - David J. Conway
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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17
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Levray YS, Bana B, Tarr SJ, McLaughlin EJ, Rossi-Smith P, Waltho A, Charlton GH, Chiozzi RZ, Straton CR, Thalassinos K, Osborne AR. Formation of ER-lumenal intermediates during export of Plasmodium proteins containing transmembrane-like hydrophobic sequences. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011281. [PMID: 37000891 PMCID: PMC10096305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
During the blood stage of a malaria infection, malaria parasites export both soluble and membrane proteins into the erythrocytes in which they reside. Exported proteins are trafficked via the parasite endoplasmic reticulum and secretory pathway, before being exported across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane into the erythrocyte. Transport across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane requires protein unfolding, and in the case of membrane proteins, extraction from the parasite plasma membrane. We show that trafficking of the exported Plasmodium protein, Pf332, differs from that of canonical eukaryotic soluble-secreted and transmembrane proteins. Pf332 is initially ER-targeted by an internal hydrophobic sequence that unlike a signal peptide, is not proteolytically removed, and unlike a transmembrane segment, does not span the ER membrane. Rather, both termini of the hydrophobic sequence enter the ER-lumen and the ER-lumenal species is a productive intermediate for protein export. Furthermore, we show in intact cells, that two other exported membrane proteins, SBP1 and MAHRP2, assume a lumenal topology within the parasite secretory pathway. Although the addition of a C-terminal ER-retention sequence, recognised by the lumenal domain of the KDEL receptor, does not completely block export of SBP1 and MAHRP2, it does enhance their retention in the parasite ER. This indicates that a sub-population of each protein adopts an ER-lumenal state that is an intermediate in the export process. Overall, this suggests that although many exported proteins traverse the parasite secretory pathway as typical soluble or membrane proteins, some exported proteins that are ER-targeted by a transmembrane segment-like, internal, non-cleaved hydrophobic segment, do not integrate into the ER membrane, and form an ER-lumenal species that is a productive export intermediate. This represents a novel means, not seen in typical membrane proteins found in model systems, by which exported transmembrane-like proteins can be targeted and trafficked within the lumen of the secretory pathway.
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18
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Patterns of Heterochromatin Transitions Linked to Changes in the Expression of Plasmodium falciparum Clonally Variant Genes. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0304922. [PMID: 36515553 PMCID: PMC9927496 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03049-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival of malaria parasites in the changing human blood environment largely depends on their ability to alter gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms. The active state of Plasmodium falciparum clonally variant genes (CVGs) is associated with euchromatin characterized by the histone mark H3K9ac, whereas the silenced state is characterized by H3K9me3-based heterochromatin. Expression switches are linked to euchromatin-heterochromatin transitions, but these transitions have not been characterized for the majority of CVGs. To define the heterochromatin distribution patterns associated with the alternative transcriptional states of CVGs, we compared H3K9me3 occupancy at a genome-wide level among several parasite subclones of the same genetic background that differed in the transcriptional state of many CVGs. We found that de novo heterochromatin formation or the complete disruption of a heterochromatin domain is a relatively rare event, and for the majority of CVGs, expression switches can be explained by the expansion or retraction of heterochromatin domains. We identified different modalities of heterochromatin changes linked to transcriptional differences, but despite this complexity, heterochromatin distribution patterns generally enable the prediction of the transcriptional state of specific CVGs. We also found that in some subclones, several var genes were simultaneously in an active state. Furthermore, the heterochromatin levels in the putative regulatory region of the gdv1 antisense noncoding RNA, a regulator of sexual commitment, varied between parasite lines with different sexual conversion rates. IMPORTANCE The malaria parasite P. falciparum is responsible for more than half a million deaths every year. P. falciparum clonally variant genes (CVGs) mediate fundamental host-parasite interactions and play a key role in parasite adaptation to fluctuations in the conditions of the human host. The expression of CVGs is regulated at the epigenetic level by changes in the distribution of a type of chromatin called heterochromatin. Here, we describe at a genome-wide level the changes in the heterochromatin distribution associated with the different transcriptional states of CVGs. Our results also reveal a likely role for heterochromatin at a particular locus in determining the parasite investment in transmission to mosquitoes. Additionally, this data set will enable the prediction of the transcriptional state of CVGs from epigenomic data, which is important for the study of parasite adaptation to the conditions of the host in natural malaria infections.
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19
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Braun JEA. Extracellular chaperone networks and the export of J-domain proteins. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102840. [PMID: 36581212 PMCID: PMC9867986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
An extracellular network of molecular chaperones protects a diverse array of proteins that reside in or pass through extracellular spaces. Proteins in the extracellular milieu face numerous challenges that can lead to protein misfolding and aggregation. As a checkpoint for proteins that move between cells, extracellular chaperone networks are of growing clinical relevance. J-domain proteins (JDPs) are ubiquitous molecular chaperones that are known for their essential roles in a wide array of fundamental cellular processes through their regulation of heat shock protein 70s. As the largest molecular chaperone family, JDPs have long been recognized for their diverse functions within cells. Some JDPs are elegantly selective for their "client proteins," some do not discriminate among substrates and others act cooperatively on the same target. The realization that JDPs are exported through both classical and unconventional secretory pathways has fueled investigation into the roles that JDPs play in protein quality control and intercellular communication. The proposed functions of exported JDPs are diverse. Studies suggest that export of DnaJB11 enhances extracellular proteostasis, that intercellular movement of DnaJB1 or DnaJB6 enhances the proteostasis capacity in recipient cells, whereas the import of DnaJB8 increases resistance to chemotherapy in recipient cancer cells. In addition, the export of DnaJC5 and concurrent DnaJC5-dependent ejection of dysfunctional and aggregation-prone proteins are implicated in the prevention of neurodegeneration. This review provides a brief overview of the current understanding of the extracellular chaperone networks and outlines the first wave of studies describing the cellular export of JDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice E A Braun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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20
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Sauer LM, Canovas R, Roche D, Shams-Eldin H, Ravel P, Colinge J, Schwarz RT, Ben Mamoun C, Rivals E, Cornillot E. FT-GPI, a highly sensitive and accurate predictor of GPI-anchored proteins, reveals the composition and evolution of the GPI proteome in Plasmodium species. Malar J 2023; 22:27. [PMID: 36698187 PMCID: PMC9876418 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04430-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protozoan parasites are known to attach specific and diverse group of proteins to their plasma membrane via a GPI anchor. In malaria parasites, GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) have been shown to play an important role in host-pathogen interactions and a key function in host cell invasion and immune evasion. Because of their immunogenic properties, some of these proteins have been considered as malaria vaccine candidates. However, identification of all possible GPI-APs encoded by these parasites remains challenging due to their sequence diversity and limitations of the tools used for their characterization. METHODS The FT-GPI software was developed to detect GPI-APs based on the presence of a hydrophobic helix at both ends of the premature peptide. FT-GPI was implemented in C ++and applied to study the GPI-proteome of 46 isolates of the order Haemosporida. Using the GPI proteome of Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7 and Plasmodium vivax strain Sal-1, a heuristic method was defined to select the most sensitive and specific FT-GPI software parameters. RESULTS FT-GPI enabled revision of the GPI-proteome of P. falciparum and P. vivax, including the identification of novel GPI-APs. Orthology- and synteny-based analyses showed that 19 of the 37 GPI-APs found in the order Haemosporida are conserved among Plasmodium species. Our analyses suggest that gene duplication and deletion events may have contributed significantly to the evolution of the GPI proteome, and its composition correlates with speciation. CONCLUSION FT-GPI-based prediction is a useful tool for mining GPI-APs and gaining further insights into their evolution and sequence diversity. This resource may also help identify new protein candidates for the development of vaccines for malaria and other parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena M. Sauer
- Institute for Virology, Hans-Meerwein-Straße, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Computational Biology Institute, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
- Present Address: GRN-Klinik Sinsheim, Alte Waibstadter Straße 2a, 74889 Sinsheim, Germany
| | - Rodrigo Canovas
- Computational Biology Institute, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141LIRMM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Daniel Roche
- Computational Biology Institute, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141LIRMM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Hosam Shams-Eldin
- Institute for Virology, Hans-Meerwein-Straße, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Patrice Ravel
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier INSERM U1094, ICM, Université de Montpellier, Campus Val d’Aurelle, 208 Avenue Des Apothicaires, 34298 Montpellier, France
| | - Jacques Colinge
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier INSERM U1094, ICM, Université de Montpellier, Campus Val d’Aurelle, 208 Avenue Des Apothicaires, 34298 Montpellier, France
| | - Ralph T. Schwarz
- Institute for Virology, Hans-Meerwein-Straße, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Eric Rivals
- Computational Biology Institute, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141LIRMM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
- grid.510302.5Institut Français de Bioinformatique, CNRS UAR 3601, 2, rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057 Évry, France
| | - Emmanuel Cornillot
- Computational Biology Institute, Campus Saint Priest, 161 Rue Ada, 34095 Montpellier, France
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier INSERM U1094, ICM, Université de Montpellier, Campus Val d’Aurelle, 208 Avenue Des Apothicaires, 34298 Montpellier, France
- Wespran SAS, 13 Rue de Penthièvre, 75008 Paris, France
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A member of the tryptophan-rich protein family is required for efficient sequestration of Plasmodium berghei schizonts. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010846. [PMID: 36126089 PMCID: PMC9524624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein export and host membrane remodeling are crucial for multiple Plasmodium species to establish a niche in infected hosts. To better understand the contribution of these processes to successful parasite infection in vivo, we sought to find and characterize protein components of the intraerythrocytic Plasmodium berghei-induced membrane structures (IBIS) that form in the cytoplasm of infected erythrocytes. We identified proteins that immunoprecipitate with IBIS1, a signature member of the IBIS in P. berghei-infected erythrocytes. In parallel, we also report our data describing proteins that co-precipitate with the PTEX (Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins) component EXP2. To validate our findings, we examined the location of three candidate IBIS1-interactors that are conserved across multiple Plasmodium species, and we found they localized to IBIS in infected red blood cells and two further colocalized with IBIS1 in the liver-stage parasitophorous vacuole membrane. Successful gene deletion revealed that these two tryptophan-rich domain-containing proteins, termed here IPIS2 and IPIS3 (for intraerythrocytic Plasmodium-induced membrane structures), are required for efficient blood-stage growth. Erythrocytes infected with IPIS2-deficient schizonts in particular fail to bind CD36 as efficiently as wild-type P. berghei-infected cells and therefore fail to effectively sequester out of the circulating blood. Our findings support the idea that intra-erythrocytic membrane compartments are required across species for alterations of the host erythrocyte that facilitate interactions of infected cells with host tissues.
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Almaazmi SY, Singh H, Dutta T, Blatch GL. Exported J domain proteins of the human malaria parasite. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:978663. [PMID: 36120546 PMCID: PMC9470956 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.978663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40) family, also called J domain proteins (JDPs), regulate their Hsp70 partners by ensuring that they are engaging the right substrate at the right time and in the right location within the cell. A number of JDPs can serve as co-chaperone for a particular Hsp70, and so one generally finds many more JDPs than Hsp70s in the cell. In humans there are 13 Hsp70s and 49 JDPs. The human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has dedicated an unusually large proportion of its genome to molecular chaperones, with a disproportionately high number of JDPs (PfJDPs) of 49 members. Interestingly, just under half of the PfJDPs are exported into the host cell during the asexual stage of the life cycle, when the malaria parasite invades mature red blood cells. Recent evidence suggests that these PfJDPs may be functionalizing both host and parasite Hsp70s within the infected red blood cell, and thereby driving the renovation of the host cell towards pathological ends. PfJDPs have been found to localize to the host cytosol, mobile structures within the host cytosol (so called “J Dots”), the host plasma membrane, and specialized structures associated with malaria pathology such as the knobs. A number of these exported PfJDPs are essential, and there is growing experimental evidence that they are important for the survival and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite. This review critiques our understanding of the important role these exported PfJDPs play at the host-parasite interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaikha Y. Almaazmi
- Biomedical Research and Drug Discovery Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Harpreet Singh
- Department of Bioinformatics, Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, India
| | - Tanima Dutta
- Vice Chancellery, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia
- The Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- PathWest Nedlands, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Gregory L. Blatch
- Biomedical Research and Drug Discovery Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Vice Chancellery, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia
- The Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Gregory L. Blatch,
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23
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Deletion of the Plasmodium falciparum exported protein PTP7 leads to Maurer’s clefts vesiculation, host cell remodeling defects, and loss of surface presentation of EMP1. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009882. [PMID: 35930605 PMCID: PMC9385048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Presentation of the variant antigen, Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (EMP1), at knob-like protrusions on the surface of infected red blood cells, underpins the parasite’s pathogenicity. Here we describe a protein PF3D7_0301700 (PTP7), that functions at the nexus between the intermediate trafficking organelle, the Maurer’s cleft, and the infected red blood cell surface. Genetic disruption of PTP7 leads to accumulation of vesicles at the Maurer’s clefts, grossly aberrant knob morphology, and failure to deliver EMP1 to the red blood cell surface. We show that an expanded low complexity sequence in the C-terminal region of PTP7, identified only in the Laverania clade of Plasmodium, is critical for efficient virulence protein trafficking. We describe a malaria parasite protein, PTP7, involved in virulence factor trafficking that is associated with Maurer’s clefts and other trafficking compartments. Upon disruption of the PTP7 locus, the Maurer’s clefts become decorated with vesicles; the knobby protrusions on the host red blood cell surface are fewer and distorted; and trafficking of the virulence protein, EMP1, to the host red blood cell surface is ablated. We provide evidence that a region of PTP7 with low sequence complexity plays an important role in virulence protein trafficking from the Maurer’s clefts.
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24
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Shakya B, Kilili GK, Wang L, Nakayasu ES, LaCount DJ. Identification of Exported Plasmodium falciparum Proteins That Bind to the Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1438. [PMID: 35889157 PMCID: PMC9320996 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium proteins are exported to the erythrocyte cytoplasm to create an environment that supports parasite replication. Although hundreds of proteins are predicted to be exported through Plasmodium export element (PEXEL)-dependent and -independent mechanisms, the functions of exported proteins are largely uncharacterized. In this study, we used a biochemical screening approach to identify putative exported P. falciparum proteins that bound to inside-out vesicles prepared from erythrocytes. Out of 69 P. falciparum PEXEL-motif proteins tested, 18 bound to inside-out vesicles (IOVs) in two or more independent assays. Using co-affinity purifications followed by mass spectrometry, pairwise co-purification experiments, and the split-luciferase assay, we identified 31 putative protein-protein interactions between erythrocyte cytoskeletal proteins and predicted exported P. falciparum proteins. We further showed that PF3D7_1401600 binds to the spectrin-binding domain of erythrocyte ankyrin via its MESA erythrocyte cytoskeleton binding (MEC) motif and to the N-terminal domains of ankyrin and 4.1R through a fragment that required an intact Plasmodium helical interspersed sub-telomeric (PHIST) domain. Introduction of PF3D7_1401600 into erythrocyte ghosts increased retention in the microsphiltration assay, consistent with previous data that reported a reduction of rigidity in red blood cells infected with PF3D7_1401600-deficient parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash Shakya
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (B.S.); (G.K.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Geoffrey Kimiti Kilili
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (B.S.); (G.K.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (B.S.); (G.K.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Ernesto S. Nakayasu
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Biological Sciences Division, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Douglas J. LaCount
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (B.S.); (G.K.K.); (L.W.)
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25
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van der Watt ME, Reader J, Birkholtz LM. Adapt or Die: Targeting Unique Transmission-Stage Biology for Malaria Elimination. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901971. [PMID: 35755845 PMCID: PMC9218253 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle that includes development in the human host as well as the Anopheles vector. Successful transmission of the parasite between its host and vector therefore requires the parasite to balance its investments in asexual replication and sexual reproduction, varying the frequency of sexual commitment to persist within the human host and generate future opportunities for transmission. The transmission window is extended further by the ability of stage V gametocytes to circulate in peripheral blood for weeks, whereas immature stage I to IV gametocytes sequester in the bone marrow and spleen until final maturation. Due to the low gametocyte numbers in blood circulation and with the ease of targeting such life cycle bottlenecks, transmission represents an efficient target for therapeutic intervention. The biological process of Plasmodium transmission is a multistage, multifaceted process and the past decade has seen a much deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulators involved. Clearly, specific and divergent processes are used during transmission compared to asexual proliferation, which both poses challenges but also opportunities for discovery of transmission-blocking antimalarials. This review therefore presents an update of our molecular understanding of gametocyte and gamete biology as well as the status of transmission-blocking activities of current antimalarials and lead development compounds. By defining the biological components associated with transmission, considerations for the development of new transmission-blocking drugs to target such untapped but unique biology is suggested as an important, main driver for transmission-blocking drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariëtte E van der Watt
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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26
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Blatch GL. Plasmodium falciparum Molecular Chaperones: Guardians of the Malaria Parasite Proteome and Renovators of the Host Proteome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:921739. [PMID: 35652103 PMCID: PMC9149364 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.921739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is a unicellular protozoan parasite and causative agent of the most severe form of malaria in humans. The malaria parasite has had to develop sophisticated mechanisms to preserve its proteome under the changing stressful conditions it confronts, particularly when it invades host erythrocytes. Heat shock proteins, especially those that function as molecular chaperones, play a key role in protein homeostasis (proteostasis) of P. falciparum. Soon after invading erythrocytes, the malaria parasite exports a large number of proteins including chaperones, which are responsible for remodeling the infected erythrocyte to enable its survival and pathogenesis. The infected host cell has parasite-resident and erythrocyte-resident chaperones, which appear to play a vital role in the folding and functioning of P. falciparum proteins and potentially host proteins. This review critiques the current understanding of how the major chaperones, particularly the Hsp70 and Hsp40 (or J domain proteins, JDPs) families, contribute to proteostasis of the malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L Blatch
- The Vice Chancellery, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia.,Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.,Biomedical Research and Drug Discovery Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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27
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Genetic Diversity, Repeat Motifs, and Natural Selection at the C-Terminal Knob-Associated Histidine Rich Protein (KAHRP) of Plasmodium falciparum Clinical Samples from Saudi Arabia. J Trop Med 2022; 2022:3740889. [PMID: 35387278 PMCID: PMC8979686 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3740889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is still a public health problem in Saudi Arabia specifically in the Jazan region. Plasmodium falciparum knob-associated histidine-rich proteins (PfKAHRPs) play an important role in cerebral malaria pathophysiology as well as pathogenesis of P. falciparum infections. The repeat region of PfKAHRP C-terminal interaction domain has been found to bind to the infected red blood cells and the vascular endothelium. Thus, this study aimed to assess the allelic variations, genetic diversity, and natural selection acting at the C-terminal PfKAHRP between parasite isolates from Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods The PfKHARP C-terminal interaction domain was successfully PCR-amplified and sequence data from 441 clinical isolates from Saudi Arabia were obtained. The DnaSP v5.10 software was used to determine the genetic diversity, polymorphism, haplotype, and natural selection. Haplotype network analysis was constructed by using the median-joining method in the NETWORK version 5.0.0.1 software. Results Alignment and analysis of 441 C-terminal PfKAHRP-deduced amino acid sequences identified 5 genotypes (I–V) based on the decapeptide repeat arrangements (TKEASTSKEA, TKEASTSKGA, TKEASTTEGA, and TKEASTSKRA). Among the repeat types, Type I (49.43%, 218/441) was the most abundant in Saudi Arabia, followed by Type II (48.29%, 213/441). Overall, the nucleotide diversity in the PfKHARP C-terminal region was found to be low in Saudi Arabia (π = 0.00142); however, natural selection tests indicated positive selection (dN-dS = 1.64, P < 0.05) which was due to the variations within the repeat motifs. Genealogical relationship haplotype network of PfKAHRP from 4 different countries (i.e., Saudi Arabia, Iran, Burundi, and India) revealed 1 major shared haplotype cluster (H_1) with samples representative from all 4 countries (Saudi Arabia; n = 441, Burundi; n = 4, Iran; n = 13, and India; n = 1). Conclusion Since this is the first study to report on genetic diversity of C-terminal PfKAHRP interaction domain and the repeat motifs from clinical samples in Saudi Arabia, it will contribute towards the rational design of antiadhesion drug therapies for P. falciparum malaria.
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Zhang H, Guo J, Li H, Guan Y. Machine learning for artemisinin resistance in malaria treatment across in vivo-in vitro platforms. iScience 2022; 25:103910. [PMID: 35243261 PMCID: PMC8873607 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance has been rapidly evolving with regard to the first-line malaria treatment, artemisinin-based combination therapies. It has been an open question whether predictive models for this drug resistance status can be generalized across in vivo-in vitro transcriptomic measurements. In this study, we present a model that predicts artemisinin treatment resistance developed with transcriptomic information of Plasmodium falciparum. We demonstrated the robustness of this model across in vivo clearance rate and in vitro IC50 measurement and based on different microarray and data processing modalities. The validity of the algorithm is further supported by its first placement in the DREAM Malaria challenge. We identified transcription biomarkers to artemisinin treatment resistance that can predict artemisinin resistance and are conserved in their expression modules. This is a critical step in the research of malaria treatment, as it demonstrated the potential of a platform-robust, personalized model for artemisinin resistance using molecular biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanrui Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jiantao Guo
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hongyang Li
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yuanfang Guan
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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29
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Gabriela M, Matthews KM, Boshoven C, Kouskousis B, Jonsdottir TK, Bullen HE, Modak J, Steer DL, Sleebs BE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Gilson PR. A revised mechanism for how Plasmodium falciparum recruits and exports proteins into its erythrocytic host cell. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009977. [PMID: 35192672 PMCID: PMC8896661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum exports ~10% of its proteome into its host erythrocyte to modify the host cell's physiology. The Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif contained within the N-terminus of most exported proteins directs the trafficking of those proteins into the erythrocyte. To reach the host cell, the PEXEL motif of exported proteins is processed by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident aspartyl protease plasmepsin V. Then, following secretion into the parasite-encasing parasitophorous vacuole, the mature exported protein must be unfolded and translocated across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane by the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX). PTEX is a protein-conducting channel consisting of the pore-forming protein EXP2, the protein unfoldase HSP101, and structural component PTEX150. The mechanism of how exported proteins are specifically trafficked from the parasite's ER following PEXEL cleavage to PTEX complexes on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane is currently not understood. Here, we present evidence that EXP2 and PTEX150 form a stable subcomplex that facilitates HSP101 docking. We also demonstrate that HSP101 localises both within the parasitophorous vacuole and within the parasite's ER throughout the ring and trophozoite stage of the parasite, coinciding with the timeframe of protein export. Interestingly, we found that HSP101 can form specific interactions with model PEXEL proteins in the parasite's ER, irrespective of their PEXEL processing status. Collectively, our data suggest that HSP101 recognises and chaperones PEXEL proteins from the ER to the parasitophorous vacuole and given HSP101's specificity for the EXP2-PTEX150 subcomplex, this provides a mechanism for how exported proteins are specifically targeted to PTEX for translocation into the erythrocyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Matthews
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Cas Boshoven
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Betty Kouskousis
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joyanta Modak
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - David L. Steer
- Monash Biomedical Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- ACRF Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tania F. de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Essential role of a Plasmodium berghei heat shock protein (PBANKA_0938300) in gametocyte development. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23640. [PMID: 34880324 PMCID: PMC8654831 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03059-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The continued existence of Plasmodium parasites in physiologically distinct environments during their transmission in mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts requires effector proteins encoded by parasite genes to provide adaptability. Parasites utilize their robust stress response system involving heat shock proteins for their survival. Molecular chaperones are involved in maintaining protein homeostasis within a cell during stress, protein biogenesis and the formation of protein complexes. Due to their critical role in parasite virulence, they are considered targets for therapeutic interventions. Our results identified a putative P. berghei heat shock protein (HSP) belonging to the HSP40 family (HspJ62), which is abundantly induced upon heat stress and expressed during all parasite stages. To determine the role HspJ62, a gene-disrupted P. berghei transgenic line was developed (ΔHspJ62), which resulted in disruption of gametocyte formation. Such parasites were unable to form subsequent sexual stages because of disrupted gametogenesis, indicating the essential role of HspJ62 in gametocyte formation. Transcriptomic analysis of the transgenic line showed downregulation of a number of genes, most of which were specific to male or female gametocytes. The transcription factor ApiAP2 was also downregulated in ΔHspJ62 parasites. Our findings suggest that the downregulation of ApiAP2 likely disrupts the transcriptional regulation of sexual stage genes, leading to impaired gametogenesis. This finding also highlights the critical role that HspJ62 indirectly plays in the development of P. berghei sexual stages and in facilitating the conversion from the asexual blood stage to the sexual stage. This study characterizes the HspJ62 protein as a fertility factor because parasites lacking it are unable to transmit to mosquitoes. This study adds an important contribution to ongoing research aimed at understanding gametocyte differentiation and formation in parasites. The molecule adds to the list of potential drug targets that can be targeted to inhibit parasite sexual development and consequently parasite transmission.
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Co-chaperone involvement in knob biogenesis implicates host-derived chaperones in malaria virulence. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009969. [PMID: 34614006 PMCID: PMC8544838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathology associated with malaria infection is largely due to the ability of infected human RBCs to adhere to a number of receptors on endothelial cells within tissues and organs. This phenomenon is driven by the export of parasite-encoded proteins to the host cell, the exact function of many of which is still unknown. Here we inactivate the function of one of these exported proteins, PFA66, a member of the J-domain protein family. Although parasites lacking this protein were still able to grow in cell culture, we observed severe defects in normal host cell modification, including aberrant morphology of surface knobs, disrupted presentation of the cytoadherence molecule PfEMP1, and a total lack of cytoadherence, despite the presence of the knob associated protein KAHRP. Complementation assays demonstrate that an intact J-domain is required for recovery to a wild-type phenotype and suggest that PFA66 functions in concert with a HSP70 to carry out host cell modification. Strikingly, this HSP70 is likely to be of host origin. ATPase assays on recombinant protein verify a functional interaction between PFA66 and residual host cell HSP70. Taken together, our data reveal a role for PFA66 in host cell modification, strongly implicate human HSP70s as being essential in this process and uncover a new KAHRP-independent molecular factor required for correct knob biogenesis. To survive in the human body, the malaria parasite invades and lives within human red blood cells. Once within the red blood cell, the parasite renovates the host cell to its own needs. Here we have studied which factors from both parasite and host cell are required for this renovation process, and discover that human chaperone proteins, referred to as HSP70, are required. It appears that a particular parasite-derived protein, PFA66, recruits and modifies the function of the human HSP70. As this interaction between a parasite and human protein is novel and essential for parasite survival, our study identifies a potential Achilles’ Heel which may be targeted for development of new anti-malaria therapies.
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Daniyan MO. Heat Shock Proteins as Targets for Novel Antimalarial Drug Discovery. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1340:205-236. [PMID: 34569027 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78397-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the parasitic agent that is responsible for a severe and dangerous form of human malaria, has a history of long years of cohabitation with human beings with attendant negative consequences. While there have been some gains in the fight against malaria through the application of various control measures and the use of chemotherapeutic agents, and despite the global decline in malaria cases and associated deaths, the continual search for new and effective therapeutic agents is key to achieving sustainable development goals. An important parasite survival strategy, which is also of serious concern to the scientific community, is the rate at which the parasites continually develop resistance to drugs. Among the key players in the parasite's ability to develop resistance, maintain cellular integrity, and survives within an unusual environment of the red blood cells are the molecular chaperones of the heat shock proteins (HSP) family. HSPs constitute a novel avenue for antimalarial drug discovery and by exploring their ubiquitous nature and multifunctional activities, they may be suitable targets for the discovery of multi-targets antimalarial drugs, needed to fight incessant drug resistance. In this chapter, features of selected families of plasmodial HSPs that can be exploited in drug discovery are presented. Also, known applications of HSPs in small molecule screening, their potential usefulness in high throughput drug screening, as well as possible challenges are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Oluwatoyin Daniyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
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The Role of Hsp70s in the Development and Pathogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 34569021 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78397-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The main agent of human malaria, the protozoa, Plasmodium falciparum is known to infect liver cells, subsequently invading the host erythrocyte, leading to the manifestation of clinical outcomes of the disease. As part of its survival in the human host, P. falciparum employs several heat shock protein (Hsp) families whose primary purpose is to ensure cytoprotection through their molecular chaperone role. The parasite expresses six Hsp70s that localise to various subcellular organelles of the parasite, with one, PfHsp70-x, being exported to the infected human erythrocyte. The role of these Hsp70s in the survival and pathogenicity of malaria has received immense research attention. Several studies have reported on their structure-function features, network partnerships, and elucidation of their potential substrates. Apart from their role in cytoprotection and pathogenicity, Hsp70s are implicated in antimalarial drug resistance. As such, they are deemed potential antimalarial drug candidates, especially suited for co-targeting in combination therapies. In addition, Hsp70 is implicated in host immune modulation. The current report highlights the various structure-function features of these proteins, their roles in the development of malaria, current and prospective efforts being employed towards targeting them in malaria intervention efforts.
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Introductory Chapter: The Importance of Heat Shock Proteins in Survival and Pathogenesis of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 34569019 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78397-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Malaria did not die with the end of the age of western colonization but is still a major public health issue in large parts of the world. Despite repeated and concerted efforts to eradicate this disease, it has proved remarkably resilient, and constant vigilance and continuous research are required to discover new chinks in the parasite's armor and alleviate the suffering at both the individual and societal levels. A deeper understanding of the fundamental processes underlying parasite survival, propagation, virulence, and ability to cause disease is the key to the development of desperately needed new therapies and prophylactic drugs. Malaria parasites, by the nature of their lifecycle, are subject to a number of environmental and cellular stresses which they must overcome to survive. To this end, they express a number of heat shock proteins (HSPs), molecules specialized on buffering the effects of external stimuli, but which are also essential for normal cellular biochemistry. In this introductory chapter, I give a brief overview of the diversity of structure, function, and importance of these HSPs, and highlight some of the current and future research questions in this field. Additionally, this chapter acts as a bridge to the other chapters in this book. These chapters, I think you will agree, demonstrate that with regard to HSPs malaria parasites, as in so many things, obey the adage "Same same, but different."
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Rougeron V, Boundenga L, Arnathau C, Durand P, Renaud F, Prugnolle F. A population genetic perspective on the origin, spread and adaptation of the human malaria agents Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 46:6373923. [PMID: 34550355 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is considered one of the most important scourges that humanity has faced during its history, being responsible every year for numerous deaths worldwide. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites, among which two species are responsible of the majority of the burden, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. For these two parasite species, the questions of their origin (how and when they appeared in humans), of their spread throughout the world, as well as how they have adapted to humans have long been of interest to the scientific community. Here, we review the current knowledge that has accumulated on these different questions, thanks in particular to the analysis of the genetic and genomic variability of these parasites and comparison with related Plasmodium species infecting other host species (like non-human primates). In this paper we review the existing body of knowledge, including current research dealing with these questions, focusing particularly on genetic analysis and genomic variability of these parasites and comparison with related Plasmodium species infecting other species of host (such as non-human primates).
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Rougeron
- Laboratory MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 900 rue Jean François Breton, 34090 Montpellier, France.,CREES, Centre de Recherches en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé, Montpellier, France
| | - Larson Boundenga
- CIRMF, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Céline Arnathau
- Laboratory MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 900 rue Jean François Breton, 34090 Montpellier, France.,CREES, Centre de Recherches en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé, Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Durand
- Laboratory MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 900 rue Jean François Breton, 34090 Montpellier, France.,CREES, Centre de Recherches en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé, Montpellier, France
| | - François Renaud
- Laboratory MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 900 rue Jean François Breton, 34090 Montpellier, France.,CREES, Centre de Recherches en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé, Montpellier, France
| | - Franck Prugnolle
- Laboratory MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 900 rue Jean François Breton, 34090 Montpellier, France.,CREES, Centre de Recherches en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé, Montpellier, France
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36
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Michelow IC, Park S, Tsai SW, Rayta B, Pasaje CFA, Nelson S, Early AM, Frosch AP, Ayodo G, Raj DK, Nixon CE, Nixon CP, Pond-Tor S, Friedman JF, Fried M, Duffy PE, Le Roch KG, Niles JC, Kurtis JD. A newly characterized malaria antigen on erythrocyte and merozoite surfaces induces parasite inhibitory antibodies. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20200170. [PMID: 34342640 PMCID: PMC8340565 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20200170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified a Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) protein of unknown function encoded by a single-copy gene, PF3D7_1134300, as a target of antibodies in plasma of Tanzanian children in a whole-proteome differential screen. Here we characterize this protein as a blood-stage antigen that localizes to the surface membranes of both parasitized erythrocytes and merozoites, hence its designation as Pf erythrocyte membrane and merozoite antigen 1 (PfEMMA1). Mouse anti-PfEMMA1 antisera and affinity-purified human anti-PfEMMA1 antibodies inhibited growth of P. falciparum strains by up to 68% in growth inhibition assays. Following challenge with uniformly fatal Plasmodium berghei (Pb) ANKA, up to 40% of mice immunized with recombinant PbEMMA1 self-cured, and median survival of lethally infected mice was up to 2.6-fold longer than controls (21 vs. 8 d, P = 0.005). Furthermore, high levels of naturally acquired human anti-PfEMMA1 antibodies were associated with a 46% decrease in parasitemia over 2.5 yr of follow-up of Tanzanian children. Together, these findings suggest that antibodies to PfEMMA1 mediate protection against malaria.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/genetics
- Antigens, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/metabolism
- Child, Preschool
- Erythrocyte Membrane/parasitology
- Female
- Host-Parasite Interactions/physiology
- Humans
- Infant
- Malaria Vaccines/genetics
- Malaria Vaccines/immunology
- Malaria, Falciparum/immunology
- Malaria, Falciparum/mortality
- Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology
- Merozoites/immunology
- Merozoites/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Plasmodium falciparum/immunology
- Plasmodium falciparum/pathogenicity
- Plasmodium falciparum/physiology
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Protozoan Proteins/chemistry
- Protozoan Proteins/genetics
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Protozoan Proteins/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Tanzania
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C. Michelow
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
| | - Sangshin Park
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
- Graduate School of Urban Public Health & Department of Urban Big Data Convergence, University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Shu-Whei Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
| | - Bonnie Rayta
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
| | | | - Sara Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
| | - Angela M. Early
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Anne P. Frosch
- Department of Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - George Ayodo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre of Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
- Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya
| | - Dipak K. Raj
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Christina E. Nixon
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Christian P. Nixon
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Sunthorn Pond-Tor
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Jennifer F. Friedman
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Pediatrics, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Michal Fried
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | - Patrick E. Duffy
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | - Karine G. Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, Center for Infectious Disease and Vector Research, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | - Jacquin C. Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Jonathan D. Kurtis
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
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37
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Dia A, Cheeseman IH. Single-cell genome sequencing of protozoan parasites. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:803-814. [PMID: 34172399 PMCID: PMC8364489 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite considerable genetic variation within hosts, most parasite genome sequencing studies focus on bulk samples composed of millions of cells. Analysis of bulk samples is biased toward the dominant genotype, concealing cell-to-cell variation and rare variants. To tackle this, single-cell sequencing approaches have been developed and tailored to specific host-parasite systems. These are allowing the genetic diversity and kinship in complex parasite populations to be deciphered and for de novo genetic variation to be captured. Here, we outline the methodologies being used for single-cell sequencing of parasitic protozoans, such as Plasmodium and Leishmania spp., and how these tools are being applied to understand parasite biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliou Dia
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ian H Cheeseman
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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38
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Wiser MF. Unique Endomembrane Systems and Virulence in Pathogenic Protozoa. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080822. [PMID: 34440567 PMCID: PMC8401336 DOI: 10.3390/life11080822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Virulence in pathogenic protozoa is often tied to secretory processes such as the expression of adhesins on parasite surfaces or the secretion of proteases to assisted in tissue invasion and other proteins to avoid the immune system. This review is a broad overview of the endomembrane systems of pathogenic protozoa with a focus on Giardia, Trichomonas, Entamoeba, kinetoplastids, and apicomplexans. The focus is on unique features of these protozoa and how these features relate to virulence. In general, the basic elements of the endocytic and exocytic pathways are present in all protozoa. Some of these elements, especially the endosomal compartments, have been repurposed by the various species and quite often the repurposing is associated with virulence. The Apicomplexa exhibit the most unique endomembrane systems. This includes unique secretory organelles that play a central role in interactions between parasite and host and are involved in the invasion of host cells. Furthermore, as intracellular parasites, the apicomplexans extensively modify their host cells through the secretion of proteins and other material into the host cell. This includes a unique targeting motif for proteins destined for the host cell. Most notable among the apicomplexans is the malaria parasite, which extensively modifies and exports numerous proteins into the host erythrocyte. These modifications of the host erythrocyte include the formation of unique membranes and structures in the host erythrocyte cytoplasm and on the erythrocyte membrane. The transport of parasite proteins to the host erythrocyte involves several unique mechanisms and components, as well as the generation of compartments within the erythrocyte that participate in extraparasite trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Wiser
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Ajibola O, Diop MF, Ghansah A, Amenga-Etego L, Golassa L, Apinjoh T, Randrianarivelojosia M, Maiga-Ascofare O, Yavo W, Bouyou-Akotet M, Oyebola KM, Andagalu B, D'Alessandro U, Ishengoma D, Djimde AA, Kamau E, Amambua-Ngwa A. In silico characterisation of putative Plasmodium falciparum vaccine candidates in African malaria populations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16215. [PMID: 34376744 PMCID: PMC8355234 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95442-4] [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: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity of surface exposed and stage specific Plasmodium falciparum immunogenic proteins pose a major roadblock to developing an effective malaria vaccine with broad and long-lasting immunity. We conducted a prospective genetic analysis of candidate antigens (msp1, ama1, rh5, eba175, glurp, celtos, csp, lsa3, Pfsea, trap, conserved chrom3, hyp9, hyp10, phistb, surfin8.2, and surfin14.1) for malaria vaccine development on 2375 P. falciparum sequences from 16 African countries. We described signatures of balancing selection inferred from positive values of Tajima's D for all antigens across all populations except for glurp. This could be as a result of immune selection on these antigens as positive Tajima's D values mapped to regions with putative immune epitopes. A less diverse phistb antigen was characterised with a transmembrane domain, glycophosphatidyl anchors between the N and C- terminals, and surface epitopes that could be targets of immune recognition. This study demonstrates the value of population genetic and immunoinformatic analysis for identifying and characterising new putative vaccine candidates towards improving strain transcending immunity, and vaccine efficacy across all endemic populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Ajibola
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
- First Technical University, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - M F Diop
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - A Ghansah
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Ghana
| | - L Amenga-Etego
- West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - L Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - T Apinjoh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - O Maiga-Ascofare
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Topical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | - W Yavo
- Unite Des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, University Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - M Bouyou-Akotet
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Libreville, Gabon
| | - K M Oyebola
- Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - B Andagalu
- United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - U D'Alessandro
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - D Ishengoma
- National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanga, Tanzania
| | - A A Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Centre, University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - E Kamau
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.
| | - A Amambua-Ngwa
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia.
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40
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Expression Patterns of Plasmodium falciparum Clonally Variant Genes at the Onset of a Blood Infection in Malaria-Naive Humans. mBio 2021; 12:e0163621. [PMID: 34340541 PMCID: PMC8406225 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01636-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonally variant genes (CVGs) play fundamental roles in the adaptation of Plasmodium falciparum to fluctuating conditions of the human host. However, their expression patterns under the natural conditions of the blood circulation have been characterized in detail for only a few specific gene families. Here, we provide a detailed characterization of the complete P. falciparum transcriptome across the full intraerythrocytic development cycle (IDC) at the onset of a blood infection in malaria-naive human volunteers. We found that the vast majority of transcriptional differences between parasites obtained from the volunteers and the parental parasite line maintained in culture occurred in CVGs. In particular, we observed a major increase in the transcript levels of most genes of the pfmc-2tm and gbp families and of specific genes of other families, such as phist, hyp10, rif, or stevor, in addition to previously reported changes in var and clag3 gene expression. Increased transcript levels of individual pfmc-2tm, rif, and stevor genes involved activation in small subsets of parasites. Large transcriptional differences correlated with changes in the distribution of heterochromatin, confirming their epigenetic nature. Furthermore, the similar expression of several CVGs between parasites collected at different time points along the blood infection suggests that the epigenetic memory for multiple CVG families is lost during transmission stages, resulting in a reset of their transcriptional state. Finally, the CVG expression patterns observed in a volunteer likely infected by a single sporozoite suggest that new epigenetic patterns are established during liver stages.
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41
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Goodswen SJ, Kennedy PJ, Ellis JT. Applying Machine Learning to Predict the Exportome of Bovine and Canine Babesia Species That Cause Babesiosis. Pathogens 2021; 10:660. [PMID: 34071992 PMCID: PMC8226867 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia infection of red blood cells can cause a severe disease called babesiosis in susceptible hosts. Bovine babesiosis causes global economic loss to the beef and dairy cattle industries, and canine babesiosis is considered a clinically significant disease. Potential therapeutic targets against bovine and canine babesiosis include members of the exportome, i.e., those proteins exported from the parasite into the host red blood cell. We developed three machine learning-derived methods (two novel and one adapted) to predict for every known Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia canis protein the probability of being an exportome member. Two well-studied apicomplexan-related species, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, with extensive experimental evidence on their exportome or excreted/secreted proteins were used as important benchmarks for the three methods. Based on 10-fold cross validation and multiple train-validation-test splits of training data, we expect that over 90% of the predicted probabilities accurately provide a secretory or non-secretory indicator. Only laboratory testing can verify that predicted high exportome membership probabilities are creditable exportome indicators. However, the presented methods at least provide those proteins most worthy of laboratory validation and will ultimately save time and money.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J. Goodswen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Paul J. Kennedy
- School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - John T. Ellis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
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Isebe TI, Bargul JL, Gichuki BM, Njunge JM, Tuju J, Rono MK. Molecular characterization of Plasmodium falciparum PHISTb proteins as potential targets of naturally-acquired immunity against malaria. Wellcome Open Res 2021. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15919.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Plasmodium falciparum causes the deadliest form of malaria in humans. Upon infection, the host’s infected red blood cells (iRBCs) are remodelled by exported parasite proteins to provide a niche for parasite development and maturation. Methods: Here we analysed the role of three PHISTb proteins Pf3D7_0532400, Pf3D7_1401600, and Pf3D7_1102500 by expressing recombinant proteins and evaluated antibody responses against these proteins using immune sera from malaria-exposed individuals from Kenya and The Gambia in Africa. Results: Children and adults from malaria-endemic regions recognized the three PHISTb proteins. Responses against PHISTb proteins varied with malaria transmission intensity in three different geographical sites in Kenya (Siaya and Takaungu) and The Gambia (Sukuta). Antibody responses against PHISTb antigens Pf3D7_1102500 and Pf3D7_1401600 were higher in Sukuta, a low transmission region in Gambia, compared to Siaya, a high transmission region in western Kenya, unlike Pf3D7_0532400. Anti-PHIST responses indicate negative correlation between antibody levels and malaria transmission intensity for Pf3D7_1102500 and Pf3D7_1401600. We report a correlation in antibody responses between schizont and gametocyte extract, but this is not statistically significant (cor=0.102, p=0.2851, CI=95%) and, Pf3D7_0532400 (cor=0.11, p=0.249, CI=95%) and Pf3D7_1401600 (cor=0.02, p=0.7968, CI=95%). We report a negative correlation in antibody responses between schizont and Pf3D7_1102500 (cor=-0.008, p=0.9348, CI=95%). There is a correlation between gametocyte extract and Pf3D7_1401600 (cor=-0.0402, p=0.6735, CI=95%), Pf3D7_1102500 (cor=0.0758, p=0.4271, CI=95%) and Pf3D7_0532400 (cor=0.155, p=0.1028, CI=95%). Acquisition of anti-PHIST antibodies correlates with exposure to malaria for Pf3D7_0532400 (p=0.009) but not Pf3D7_1102500 and Pf3D7_1401600 (p=0.507 and p=0.15, respectively, CI=95%). Children aged below 2 years had the lowest antibody levels which do not correlate with age differences. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings provide evidence of natural immunity against PHISTb antigens that varies with level of malaria exposure and underscore their potential as possible serological markers to P. falciparum infection aimed at contributing to malaria control through vaccine development.
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Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Crabb BS, F de Koning-Ward T, Gilson PR. Defining the Essential Exportome of the Malaria Parasite. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:664-675. [PMID: 33985912 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To survive inside red blood cells (RBCs), malaria parasites export many proteins to alter their host cell's physiological properties. Although most proteins of this exportome are involved in immune avoidance or in the trafficking of exported proteins to the host membrane, about 20% are essential for parasite survival in culture but little is known about their biological functions. Here, we have combined information from large-scale genetic screens and targeted gene-disruption studies to tabulate all currently known Plasmodium falciparum exported proteins according to their likelihood of being essential. We also discuss the essential functional pathways that exported proteins might be involved in to help direct research efforts towards a more comprehensive understanding of host-cell remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
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Jonsdottir TK, Counihan NA, Modak JK, Kouskousis B, Sanders PR, Gabriela M, Bullen HE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Gilson PR. Characterisation of complexes formed by parasite proteins exported into the host cell compartment of Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13332. [PMID: 33774908 PMCID: PMC8365696 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
During its intraerythrocytic life cycle, the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum supplements its nutritional requirements by scavenging substrates from the plasma through the new permeability pathways (NPPs) installed in the red blood cell (RBC) membrane. Parasite proteins of the RhopH complex: CLAG3, RhopH2, RhopH3, have been implicated in NPP activity. Here, we studied 13 exported proteins previously hypothesised to interact with RhopH2, to study their potential contribution to the function of NPPs. NPP activity assays revealed that the 13 proteins do not appear to be individually important for NPP function, as conditional knockdown of these proteins had no effect on sorbitol uptake. Intriguingly, reciprocal immunoprecipitation assays showed that five of the 13 proteins interact with all members of the RhopH complex, with PF3D7_1401200 showing the strongest association. Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics further identified new protein complexes; a cytoskeletal complex and a Maurer's clefts/J‐dot complex, which overall helps clarify protein–protein interactions within the infected RBC (iRBC) and is suggestive of the potential trafficking route of the RhopH complex itself to the RBC membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Joyanta K Modak
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Betty Kouskousis
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Micro-imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | | | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Singh S, Santos JM, Orchard LM, Yamada N, van Biljon R, Painter HJ, Mahony S, Llinás M. The PfAP2-G2 transcription factor is a critical regulator of gametocyte maturation. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:1005-1024. [PMID: 33368818 PMCID: PMC8330521 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Differentiation from asexual blood stages to mature sexual gametocytes is required for the transmission of malaria parasites. Here, we report that the ApiAP2 transcription factor, PfAP2-G2 (PF3D7_1408200) plays a critical role in the maturation of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. PfAP2-G2 binds to the promoters of a wide array of genes that are expressed at many stages of the parasite life cycle. Interestingly, we also find binding of PfAP2-G2 within the gene body of almost 3,000 genes, which strongly correlates with the location of H3K36me3 and several other histone modifications as well as Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1), suggesting that occupancy of PfAP2-G2 in gene bodies may serve as an alternative regulatory mechanism. Disruption of pfap2-g2 does not impact asexual development, but the majority of sexual parasites are unable to mature beyond stage III gametocytes. The absence of pfap2-g2 leads to overexpression of 28% of the genes bound by PfAP2-G2 and none of the PfAP2-G2 bound genes are downregulated, suggesting that it is a repressor. We also find that PfAP2-G2 interacts with chromatin remodeling proteins, a microrchidia (MORC) protein, and another ApiAP2 protein (PF3D7_1139300). Overall our data demonstrate that PfAP2-G2 establishes an essential gametocyte maturation program in association with other chromatin-related proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suprita Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
| | - Joana M. Santos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
| | - Lindsey M. Orchard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
| | - Naomi Yamada
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
| | - Riëtte van Biljon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
| | - Heather J. Painter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
| | - Shaun Mahony
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802
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Ramaprasad A, Klaus S, Douvropoulou O, Culleton R, Pain A. Plasmodium vinckei genomes provide insights into the pan-genome and evolution of rodent malaria parasites. BMC Biol 2021; 19:69. [PMID: 33888092 PMCID: PMC8063448 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-00995-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rodent malaria parasites (RMPs) serve as tractable tools to study malaria parasite biology and host-parasite-vector interactions. Among the four RMPs originally collected from wild thicket rats in sub-Saharan Central Africa and adapted to laboratory mice, Plasmodium vinckei is the most geographically widespread with isolates collected from five separate locations. However, there is a lack of extensive phenotype and genotype data associated with this species, thus hindering its use in experimental studies. Results We have generated a comprehensive genetic resource for P. vinckei comprising of five reference-quality genomes, one for each of its subspecies, blood-stage RNA sequencing data for five P. vinckei isolates, and genotypes and growth phenotypes for ten isolates. Additionally, we sequenced seven isolates of the RMP species Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium yoelii, thus extending genotypic information for four additional subspecies enabling a re-evaluation of the genotypic diversity and evolutionary history of RMPs. The five subspecies of P. vinckei have diverged widely from their common ancestor and have undergone large-scale genome rearrangements. Comparing P. vinckei genotypes reveals region-specific selection pressures particularly on genes involved in mosquito transmission. Using phylogenetic analyses, we show that RMP multigene families have evolved differently across the vinckei and berghei groups of RMPs and that family-specific expansions in P. chabaudi and P. vinckei occurred in the common vinckei group ancestor prior to speciation. The erythrocyte membrane antigen 1 and fam-c families in particular show considerable expansions among the lowland forest-dwelling P. vinckei parasites. The subspecies from the highland forests of Katanga, P. v. vinckei, has a uniquely smaller genome, a reduced multigene family repertoire and is also amenable to transfection making it an ideal parasite for reverse genetics. We also show that P. vinckei parasites are amenable to genetic crosses. Conclusions Plasmodium vinckei isolates display a large degree of phenotypic and genotypic diversity and could serve as a resource to study parasite virulence and immunogenicity. Inclusion of P. vinckei genomes provide new insights into the evolution of RMPs and their multigene families. Amenability to genetic crossing and transfection make them also suitable for classical and functional genetics to study Plasmodium biology. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-00995-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinay Ramaprasad
- Pathogen Genomics Group, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Malaria Unit, Department of Pathology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Present address: Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Severina Klaus
- Malaria Unit, Department of Pathology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Biomedical Sciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olga Douvropoulou
- Pathogen Genomics Group, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Richard Culleton
- Malaria Unit, Department of Pathology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. .,Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, 454 Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan. .,Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Group, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. .,Center for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, N20 W10 Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan.
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Taku I, Hirai T, Makiuchi T, Shinzawa N, Iwanaga S, Annoura T, Nagamune K, Nozaki T, Saito-Nakano Y. Rab5b-Associated Arf1 GTPase Regulates Export of N-Myristoylated Adenylate Kinase 2 From the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Plasmodium falciparum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:610200. [PMID: 33604307 PMCID: PMC7884776 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.610200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum extensively remodels human erythrocytes by exporting hundreds of parasite proteins. This remodeling is closely linked to the Plasmodium virulence-related functions and immune evasion. The N-terminal export signal named PEXEL (Plasmodium export element) was identified to be important for the export of proteins beyond the PVM, however, the issue of how these PEXEL-positive proteins are transported and regulated by Rab GTPases from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cell surface has remained poorly understood. Previously, we identified new aspects of the trafficking of N-myristoylated adenylate kinase 2 (PfAK2), which lacks the PEXEL motif and is regulated by the PfRab5b GTPase. Overexpression of PfRab5b suppressed the transport of PfAK2 to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and PfAK2 was accumulated in the punctate compartment within the parasite. Here, we report the identification of PfRab5b associated proteins and dissect the pathway regulated by PfRab5b. We isolated two membrane trafficking GTPases PfArf1 and PfRab1b by coimmunoprecipitation with PfRab5b and via mass analysis. PfArf1 and PfRab1b are both colocalized with PfRab5b adjacent to the ER in the early erythrocytic stage. A super-resolution microgram of the indirect immunofluorescence assay using PfArf1 or PfRab1b- expressing parasites revealed that PfArf1 and PfRab1b are localized to different ER subdomains. We used a genetic approach to expresses an active or inactive mutant of PfArf1 that specifically inhibited the trafficking of PfAK2 to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane. While expression of PfRab1b mutants did not affect in the PfAK2 transport. In contrast, the export of the PEXEL-positive protein Rifin was decreased by the expression of the inactive mutant of PfRab1b or PfArf1. These data indicate that the transport of PfAK2 and Rifin were recognized at the different ER subdomain by the two independent GTPases: PfAK2 is sorted by PfArf1 into the pathway for the PV, and the export of Rifin might be sequentially regulated by PfArf1 and PfRab1b.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izumi Taku
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.,Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Hirai
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.,Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takashi Makiuchi
- Department of Parasitology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Naoaki Shinzawa
- Department of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiroh Iwanaga
- Department of Environmental Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Annoura
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kisaburo Nagamune
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saito-Nakano
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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Enders MH, Bayarsaikhan G, Ghilas S, Chua YC, May R, de Menezes MN, Ge Z, Tan PS, Cozijnsen A, Mollard V, Yui K, McFadden GI, Lahoud MH, Caminschi I, Purcell AW, Schittenhelm RB, Beattie L, Heath WR, Fernandez-Ruiz D. Plasmodium berghei Hsp90 contains a natural immunogenic I-Ab-restricted antigen common to rodent and human Plasmodium species. CURRENT RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 2:79-92. [PMID: 35492393 PMCID: PMC9040146 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Thorough understanding of the role of CD4 T cells in immunity can be greatly assisted by the study of responses to defined specificities. This requires knowledge of Plasmodium-derived immunogenic epitopes, of which only a few have been identified, especially for the mouse C57BL/6 background. We recently developed a TCR transgenic mouse line, termed PbT-II, that produces CD4+ T cells specific for an MHC class II (I-Ab)-restricted Plasmodium epitope and is responsive to both sporozoites and blood-stage P. berghei. Here, we identify a peptide within the P. berghei heat shock protein 90 as the cognate epitope recognised by PbT-II cells. We show that C57BL/6 mice infected with P. berghei blood-stage induce an endogenous CD4 T cell response specific for this epitope, indicating cells of similar specificity to PbT-II cells are present in the naïve repertoire. Adoptive transfer of in vitro activated TH1-, or particularly TH2-polarised PbT-II cells improved control of P. berghei parasitemia in C57BL/6 mice and drastically reduced the onset of experimental cerebral malaria. Our results identify a versatile, potentially protective MHC-II restricted epitope useful for exploration of CD4 T cell-mediated immunity and vaccination strategies against malaria. Identification of a novel MHC-II-restricted epitope in P. berghei Hsp90 that is the cognate antigen of PbT-II CD4+ T cells. This epitope is conserved among mouse malaria parasites and in Plasmodium falciparum, which causes human malaria. Exposure to liver or blood stage P. berghei infection expands a population of endogenous Hsp90-specific CD4+ T cells. Dendritic cell-targeted vaccination generates memory PbT-II cells and endogenous Hsp90-specific CD4+ T cells. TH1- and TH2-polarised PbT-II cells reduce P. berghei parasitaemia and mitigate development of experimental cerebral malaria.
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Role of the J Domain Protein Family in the Survival and Pathogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1340:97-123. [PMID: 34569022 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78397-6_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum has dedicated an unusually large proportion of its genome to molecular chaperones (2% of all genes), with the heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40) family (now called J domain proteins, JDPs) exhibiting evolutionary radiation into 49 members. A large number of the P. falciparum JDPs (PfJDPs) are predicted to be exported, with certain members shown experimentally to be present in the erythrocyte cytosol (PFA0660w and PFE0055c) or erythrocyte membrane (ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen, RESA). PFA0660w and PFE0055c are associated with an exported plasmodial Hsp70 (PfHsp70-x) within novel mobile structures called J-dots, which have been proposed to be dedicated to the trafficking of key membrane proteins such as erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). Well over half of the PfJDPs appear to be essential, including the J-dot PfJDP, PFE0055c, while others have been found to be required for growth under febrile conditions (e.g. PFA0110w, the ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen protein [RESA]) or involved in pathogenesis (e.g. PF10_0381 has been shown to be important for protrusions of the infected red blood cell membrane, the so-called knobs). Here we review what is known about those PfJDPs that have been well characterised, and may be directly or indirectly involved in the survival and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite.
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50
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Edkins AL, Boshoff A. General Structural and Functional Features of Molecular Chaperones. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1340:11-73. [PMID: 34569020 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78397-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Molecular chaperones are a group of structurally diverse and highly conserved ubiquitous proteins. They play crucial roles in facilitating the correct folding of proteins in vivo by preventing protein aggregation or facilitating the appropriate folding and assembly of proteins. Heat shock proteins form the major class of molecular chaperones that are responsible for protein folding events in the cell. This is achieved by ATP-dependent (folding machines) or ATP-independent mechanisms (holders). Heat shock proteins are induced by a variety of stresses, besides heat shock. The large and varied heat shock protein class is categorised into several subfamilies based on their sizes in kDa namely, small Hsps (HSPB), J domain proteins (Hsp40/DNAJ), Hsp60 (HSPD/E; Chaperonins), Hsp70 (HSPA), Hsp90 (HSPC), and Hsp100. Heat shock proteins are localised to different compartments in the cell to carry out tasks specific to their environment. Most heat shock proteins form large oligomeric structures, and their functions are usually regulated by a variety of cochaperones and cofactors. Heat shock proteins do not function in isolation but are rather part of the chaperone network in the cell. The general structural and functional features of the major heat shock protein families are discussed, including their roles in human disease. Their function is particularly important in disease due to increased stress in the cell. Vector-borne parasites affecting human health encounter stress during transmission between invertebrate vectors and mammalian hosts. Members of the main classes of heat shock proteins are all represented in Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of cerebral malaria, and they play specific functions in differentiation, cytoprotection, signal transduction, and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne Lesley Edkins
- Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit (BioBRU), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda/Grahamstown, South Africa.
- Rhodes University, Makhanda/Grahamstown, South Africa.
| | - Aileen Boshoff
- Rhodes University, Makhanda/Grahamstown, South Africa.
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda/Grahamstown, South Africa.
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