1
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Yarlett N, Jarroll EL, Morada M, Lloyd D. Protists: Eukaryotic single-celled organisms and the functioning of their organelles. Adv Microb Physiol 2024; 84:243-307. [PMID: 38821633 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2024.02.001] [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] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Organelles are membrane bound structures that compartmentalize biochemical and molecular functions. With improved molecular, biochemical and microscopy tools the diversity and function of protistan organelles has increased in recent years, providing a complex panoply of structure/function relationships. This is particularly noticeable with the description of hydrogenosomes, and the diverse array of structures that followed, having hybrid hydrogenosome/mitochondria attributes. These diverse organelles have lost the major, at one time, definitive components of the mitochondrion (tricarboxylic cycle enzymes and cytochromes), however they all contain the machinery for the assembly of Fe-S clusters, which is the single unifying feature they share. The plasticity of organelles, like the mitochondrion, is therefore evident from its ability to lose its identity as an aerobic energy generating powerhouse while retaining key ancestral functions common to both aerobes and anaerobes. It is interesting to note that the apicoplast, a non-photosynthetic plastid that is present in all apicomplexan protozoa, apart from Cryptosporidium and possibly the gregarines, is also the site of Fe-S cluster assembly proteins. It turns out that in Cryptosporidium proteins involved in Fe-S cluster biosynthesis are localized in the mitochondrial remnant organelle termed the mitosome. Hence, different organisms have solved the same problem of packaging a life-requiring set of reactions in different ways, using different ancestral organelles, discarding what is not needed and keeping what is essential. Don't judge an organelle by its cover, more by the things it does, and always be prepared for surprises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Yarlett
- Haskins Laboratories, Pace University, New York, NY, United States; The Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Pace University, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Edward L Jarroll
- Department of Biological Sciences, CUNY-Lehman College, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Mary Morada
- Haskins Laboratories, Pace University, New York, NY, United States
| | - David Lloyd
- Schools of Biosciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom
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2
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Hvorecny KL, Sladewski TE, De La Cruz EM, Kollman JM, Heaslip AT. Toxoplasma gondii actin filaments are tuned for rapid disassembly and turnover. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1840. [PMID: 38418447 PMCID: PMC10902351 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The cytoskeletal protein actin plays a critical role in the pathogenicity of the intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, mediating invasion and egress, cargo transport, and organelle inheritance. Advances in live cell imaging have revealed extensive filamentous actin networks in the Apicomplexan parasite, but there are conflicting data regarding the biochemical and biophysical properties of Toxoplasma actin. Here, we imaged the in vitro assembly of individual Toxoplasma actin filaments in real time, showing that native, unstabilized filaments grow tens of microns in length. Unlike skeletal muscle actin, Toxoplasma filaments intrinsically undergo rapid treadmilling due to a high critical concentration, fast monomer dissociation, and rapid nucleotide exchange. Cryo-EM structures of jasplakinolide-stabilized and native (i.e. unstabilized) filaments show an architecture like skeletal actin, with differences in assembly contacts in the D-loop that explain the dynamic nature of the filament, likely a conserved feature of Apicomplexan actin. This work demonstrates that evolutionary changes at assembly interfaces can tune the dynamic properties of actin filaments without disrupting their conserved structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli L Hvorecny
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas E Sladewski
- Department of Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Enrique M De La Cruz
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Justin M Kollman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Aoife T Heaslip
- Department of Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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3
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Singh G, Kaur N, Khanna R, Kaur R, Gudi S, Kaur R, Sidhu N, Vikal Y, Mangat GS. 2Gs and plant architecture: breaking grain yield ceiling through breeding approaches for next wave of revolution in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:139-162. [PMID: 36176065 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2112648] [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: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Rice is a principal food crop for more than half of the global population. Grain number and grain weight (2Gs) are the two complex traits controlled by several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and are considered the most critical components for yield enhancement in rice. Novel molecular biology and QTL mapping strategies can be utilized in dissecting the complex genetic architecture of these traits. Discovering the valuable genes/QTLs associated with 2Gs traits hidden in the rice genome and utilizing them in breeding programs may bring a revolution in rice production. Furthermore, the positional cloning and functional characterization of identified genes and QTLs may aid in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the 2Gs traits. In addition, knowledge of modern genomic tools aids the understanding of the nature of plant and panicle architecture, which enhances their photosynthetic activity. Rice researchers continue to combine important yield component traits (including 2Gs for the yield ceiling) by utilizing modern breeding tools, such as marker-assisted selection (MAS), haplotype-based breeding, and allele mining. Physical co-localization of GW7 (for grain weight) and DEP2 (for grain number) genes present on chromosome 7 revealed the possibility of simultaneous introgression of these two genes, if desirable allelic variants were found in the single donor parent. This review article will reveal the genetic nature of 2Gs traits and use this knowledge to break the yield ceiling by using different breeding and biotechnological tools, which will sustain the world's food requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurjeet Singh
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Navdeep Kaur
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Renu Khanna
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Rupinder Kaur
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Santosh Gudi
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Rajvir Kaur
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Navjot Sidhu
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Yogesh Vikal
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - G S Mangat
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
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4
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Zhang Z, Gaetjens TK, Ou J, Zhou Q, Yu Y, Mallory DP, Abel SM, Yu Y. Propulsive cell entry diverts pathogens from immune degradation by remodeling the phagocytic synapse. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306788120. [PMID: 38032935 PMCID: PMC10710034 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306788120] [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: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis is a critical immune function for infection control and tissue homeostasis. During phagocytosis, pathogens are internalized and degraded in phagolysosomes. For pathogens that evade immune degradation, the prevailing view is that virulence factors are required to disrupt the biogenesis of phagolysosomes. In contrast, we present here that physical forces from motile pathogens during cell entry divert them away from the canonical degradative pathway. This altered fate begins with the force-induced remodeling of the phagocytic synapse formation. We used the parasite Toxoplasma gondii as a model because live Toxoplasma actively invades host cells using gliding motility. To differentiate the effects of physical forces from virulence factors in phagocytosis, we employed magnetic forces to induce propulsive entry of inactivated Toxoplasma into macrophages. Experiments and computer simulations show that large propulsive forces hinder productive activation of receptors by preventing their spatial segregation from phosphatases at the phagocytic synapse. Consequently, the inactivated parasites are engulfed into vacuoles that fail to mature into degradative units, similar to the live motile parasite's intracellular pathway. Using yeast cells and opsonized beads, we confirmed that this mechanism is general, not specific to the parasite used. These results reveal new aspects of immune evasion by demonstrating how physical forces during active cell entry, independent of virulence factors, enable pathogens to circumvent phagolysosomal degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN47405-7102
| | - Thomas K. Gaetjens
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN37996
| | - Jin Ou
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN47405-7102
| | - Qiong Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN47405-7102
| | - Yanqi Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN47405-7102
| | - D. Paul Mallory
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN47405-7102
| | - Steven M. Abel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN37996
| | - Yan Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN47405-7102
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5
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Wong C, Alabadí D, Blázquez MA. Spatial regulation of plant hormone action. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:6089-6103. [PMID: 37401809 PMCID: PMC10575700 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Although many plant cell types are capable of producing hormones, and plant hormones can in most cases act in the same cells in which they are produced, they also act as signaling molecules that coordinate physiological responses between different parts of the plant, indicating that their action is subject to spatial regulation. Numerous publications have reported that all levels of plant hormonal pathways, namely metabolism, transport, and perception/signal transduction, can help determine the spatial ranges of hormone action. For example, polar auxin transport or localized auxin biosynthesis contribute to creating a differential hormone accumulation across tissues that is instrumental for specific growth and developmental responses. On the other hand, tissue specificity of cytokinin actions has been proposed to be regulated by mechanisms operating at the signaling stages. Here, we review and discuss current knowledge about the contribution of the three levels mentioned above in providing spatial specificity to plant hormone action. We also explore how new technological developments, such as plant hormone sensors based on FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) or single-cell RNA-seq, can provide an unprecedented level of resolution in defining the spatial domains of plant hormone action and its dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Wong
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), 46022-Valencia, Spain
| | - David Alabadí
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), 46022-Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel A Blázquez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), 46022-Valencia, Spain
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6
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Asady B, Sampels V, Romano JD, Levitskaya J, Lige B, Khare P, Le A, Coppens I. Function and regulation of a steroidogenic CYP450 enzyme in the mitochondrion of Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011566. [PMID: 37651449 PMCID: PMC10499268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011566] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
As an obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii must import essential nutrients from the host cell into the parasitophorous vacuole. We previously reported that the parasite scavenges cholesterol from host endocytic organelles for incorporation into membranes and storage as cholesteryl esters in lipid droplets. In this study, we have investigated whether Toxoplasma utilizes cholesterol as a precursor for the synthesis of metabolites, such as steroids. In mammalian cells, steroidogenesis occurs in mitochondria and involves membrane-bound type I cytochrome P450 oxidases that are activated through interaction with heme-binding proteins containing a cytochrome b5 domain, such as members of the membrane-associated progesterone receptor (MAPR) family. Our LC-MS targeted lipidomics detect selective classes of hormone steroids in Toxoplasma, with a predominance for anti-inflammatory hydroxypregnenolone species, deoxycorticosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone. The genome of Toxoplasma contains homologs encoding a single type I CYP450 enzyme (we named TgCYP450mt) and a single MAPR (we named TgMAPR). We showed that TgMAPR is a hemoprotein with conserved residues in a heme-binding cytochrome b5 domain. Both TgCYP450 and TgMAPR localize to the mitochondrion and show interactions in in situ proximity ligation assays. Genetic ablation of cyp450mt is not tolerated by Toxoplasma; we therefore engineered a conditional knockout strain and showed that iΔTgCYP450mt parasites exhibit growth impairment in cultured cells. Parasite strains deficient for mapr could be generated; however, ΔTgMAPR parasites suffer from poor global fitness, loss of plasma membrane integrity, aberrant mitochondrial cristae, and an abnormally long S-phase in their cell cycle. Compared to wild-type parasites, iΔTgCYP450mt and ΔTgMAPR lost virulence in mice and metabolomics studies reveal that both mutants have reduced levels of steroids. These observations point to a steroidogenic pathway operational in the mitochondrion of a protozoan that involves an evolutionary conserved TgCYP450mt enzyme and its binding partner TgMAPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beejan Asady
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Vera Sampels
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Julia D. Romano
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jelena Levitskaya
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bao Lige
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Pratik Khare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anne Le
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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7
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Ivaniski-Mello A, Zimmermann Casal M, Costa RR, Alberton CL, Martinez FG, Peyré-Tartaruga LA. Quantifying physiological and biomechanical responses of shallow water walking: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Res Sports Med 2023; 31:604-618. [PMID: 34979836 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2021.2020786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Detecting the physiological and biomechanical alterations in shallow water walking (SWW) due to water depth and speed is important for health professionals to perform accurate exercise prescription. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to investigate the acute physiological and biomechanical responses of SWW at different immersion depths in comparison to dry land walking. The main result (initial search: 1960 studies; systematic review: 42 studies; meta-analysis: 22 studies) indicated that metabolic power was higher in the immersion depth levels of xiphoid process (standardized mean differences (SMD) = 0.90; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.26 to 1.54) and waist (SMD = 3.35; 95% CI: -0.18 to 6.87) in comparison to dry land. SWW at xiphoid and waist depths seems to be an adequate exercise if the objective is to increase the energy expenditure and cardiovascular demand while the lower limb impact forces are reduced in comparison to dry land walking. PROSPERO registration: CRD42018113040.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Ivaniski-Mello
- Exercise Research Laboratory, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Rochelle Rocha Costa
- Exercise Research Laboratory, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Flávia Gomes Martinez
- Exercise Research Laboratory, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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8
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Conners R, León-Quezada RI, McLaren M, Bennett NJ, Daum B, Rakonjac J, Gold VAM. Cryo-electron microscopy of the f1 filamentous phage reveals insights into viral infection and assembly. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2724. [PMID: 37169795 PMCID: PMC10175506 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37915-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Phages are viruses that infect bacteria and dominate every ecosystem on our planet. As well as impacting microbial ecology, physiology and evolution, phages are exploited as tools in molecular biology and biotechnology. This is particularly true for the Ff (f1, fd or M13) phages, which represent a widely distributed group of filamentous viruses. Over nearly five decades, Ffs have seen an extraordinary range of applications, yet the complete structure of the phage capsid and consequently the mechanisms of infection and assembly remain largely mysterious. In this work, we use cryo-electron microscopy and a highly efficient system for production of short Ff-derived nanorods to determine a structure of a filamentous virus including the tips. We show that structure combined with mutagenesis can identify phage domains that are important in bacterial attack and for release of new progeny, allowing new models to be proposed for the phage lifecycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Conners
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Rayén Ignacia León-Quezada
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Nanophage Technologies, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Mathew McLaren
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Nicholas J Bennett
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Bertram Daum
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Jasna Rakonjac
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
- Nanophage Technologies, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
| | - Vicki A M Gold
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
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9
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Kelsen A, Kent RS, Snyder AK, Wehri E, Bishop SJ, Stadler RV, Powell C, Martorelli di Genova B, Rompikuntal PK, Boulanger MJ, Warshaw DM, Westwood NJ, Schaletzky J, Ward GE. MyosinA is a druggable target in the widespread protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002110. [PMID: 37155705 PMCID: PMC10185354 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread apicomplexan parasite that can cause severe disease in its human hosts. The ability of T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites to invade into, egress from, and move between cells of the hosts they infect is critical to parasite virulence and disease progression. An unusual and highly conserved parasite myosin motor (TgMyoA) plays a central role in T. gondii motility. The goal of this work was to determine whether the parasite's motility and lytic cycle can be disrupted through pharmacological inhibition of TgMyoA, as an approach to altering disease progression in vivo. To this end, we first sought to identify inhibitors of TgMyoA by screening a collection of 50,000 structurally diverse small molecules for inhibitors of the recombinant motor's actin-activated ATPase activity. The top hit to emerge from the screen, KNX-002, inhibited TgMyoA with little to no effect on any of the vertebrate myosins tested. KNX-002 was also active against parasites, inhibiting parasite motility and growth in culture in a dose-dependent manner. We used chemical mutagenesis, selection in KNX-002, and targeted sequencing to identify a mutation in TgMyoA (T130A) that renders the recombinant motor less sensitive to compound. Compared to wild-type parasites, parasites expressing the T130A mutation showed reduced sensitivity to KNX-002 in motility and growth assays, confirming TgMyoA as a biologically relevant target of KNX-002. Finally, we present evidence that KNX-002 can slow disease progression in mice infected with wild-type parasites, but not parasites expressing the resistance-conferring TgMyoA T130A mutation. Taken together, these data demonstrate the specificity of KNX-002 for TgMyoA, both in vitro and in vivo, and validate TgMyoA as a druggable target in infections with T. gondii. Since TgMyoA is essential for virulence, conserved in apicomplexan parasites, and distinctly different from the myosins found in humans, pharmacological inhibition of MyoA offers a promising new approach to treating the devastating diseases caused by T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Kelsen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Robyn S. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Anne K. Snyder
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Eddie Wehri
- Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases, University of California Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Bishop
- School of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews and EaStCHEM, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel V. Stadler
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Cameron Powell
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Bruno Martorelli di Genova
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Pramod K. Rompikuntal
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Martin J. Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - David M. Warshaw
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Westwood
- School of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews and EaStCHEM, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Schaletzky
- Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases, University of California Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Gary E. Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
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Zhang Z, Gaetjens TK, Yu Y, Paul Mallory D, Abel SM, Yu Y. Propulsive cell entry diverts pathogens from immune degradation by remodeling the phagocytic synapse. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.25.538287. [PMID: 37162866 PMCID: PMC10168248 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.25.538287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Phagocytosis is a critical immune function for infection control and tissue homeostasis. This process is typically described as non-moving pathogens being internalized and degraded in phagolysosomes. For pathogens that evade immune degradation, the prevailing view is that virulence factors that biochemically disrupt the biogenesis of phagoslysosomes are required. In contrast, here we report that physical forces exerted by pathogens during cell entry divert them away from the canonical phagolysosomal degradation pathway, and this altered intracellular fate is determined at the time of phagocytic synapse formation. We used the eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii as a model because live Toxoplasma uses gliding motility to actively invade into host cells. To differentiate the effect of physical forces from that of virulence factors in phagocytosis, we developed a strategy that used magnetic forces to induce propulsive entry of inactivated Toxoplasma into macrophage cells. Experiments and computer simulations collectively reveal that large propulsive forces suppress productive activation of receptors by hindering their spatial segregation from phosphatases at the phagocytic synapse. Consequently, the inactivated parasites, instead of being degraded in phagolysosomes, are engulfed into vacuoles that fail to mature into degradative units, following an intracellular pathway strikingly similar to that of the live motile parasite. Using opsonized beads, we further confirmed that this mechanism is general, not specific to the parasite used. These results reveal previously unknown aspects of immune evasion by demonstrating how physical forces exerted during active cell entry, independent of virulence factors, can help pathogens circumvent phagolysosomal degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102
| | - Thomas K. Gaetjens
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
| | - Yanqi Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102
| | - D. Paul Mallory
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102
| | - Steven M. Abel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
| | - Yan Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102
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11
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Burrell A, Marugan-Hernandez V, Graefin Von Der Recke K, Aguiar-Martins K, Gabriel HB, Tomley FM, Vaughan S. Refractile bodies of Eimeria tenella are proteinaceous membrane-less organelles that undergo dynamic changes during infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1082622. [PMID: 37033474 PMCID: PMC10081493 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1082622] [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: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionRefractile bodies (RB) are large membrane-less organelles (MLO) of unknown function found as a prominent mismatched pair within the sporozoite stages of all species of Eimeria, parasitic coccidian protozoa.MethodsHigh resolution imaging methods including time-lapse live confocal microscopy and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) were used to investigate the morphology of RB and other intracellular organelles before and after sporozoite invasion of host cells.ResultsLive cell imaging of MDBK cells infected with E. tenella sporozoites confirmed previous reports that RB reduce from two to one post-infection and showed that reduction in RB number occurs via merger of the anterior RB with the posterior RB, a process that lasts 20-40 seconds and takes place between 2- and 5-hours post-infection. Ultrastructural studies using SBF-SEM on whole individual sporozoites, both pre- and post-host cell invasion, confirmed the live cell imaging observations and showed also that changes to the overall sporozoite cell shape accompanied RB merger. Furthermore, the single RB post-merger was found to be larger in volume than the two RB pre-merger. Actin inhibitors were used to investigate a potential role for actin in RB merger, Cytochalasin D significantly inhibited both RB merger and the accompanying changes in sporozoite cell shape.DiscussionMLOs in eukaryotic organisms are characterised by their lack of a membrane and ability to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and fusion, usually in an actin-mediated fashion. Based on the changes in sporozoite cell shape observed at the time of RB merger together with a potential role for actin in this process, we propose that RB are classed as an MLO and recognised as one of the largest MLOs so far characterised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana Burrell
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, United Kingdom
| | - Virginia Marugan-Hernandez
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Virginia Marugan-Hernandez, ; Sue Vaughan,
| | - Karolin Graefin Von Der Recke
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, United Kingdom
| | - Kelsilandia Aguiar-Martins
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, United Kingdom
| | - Heloisa Berti Gabriel
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona M. Tomley
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Virginia Marugan-Hernandez, ; Sue Vaughan,
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12
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Perdomo-Gómez CD, Ruiz-Uribe NE, González JM, Forero-Shelton M. Extensible membrane nanotubules mediate attachment of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes under flow. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283182. [PMID: 36947570 PMCID: PMC10032539 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, an important cause of infectious chronic myocardiopathy in Latin America. The life cycle of the parasite involves two main hosts: a triatomine (arthropod hematophagous vector) and a mammal. Epimastigotes are flagellated forms inside the triatomine gut; they mature in its intestine into metacyclic trypomastigotes, the infective form for humans. Parasites attach despite the shear stress generated by fluid flow in the intestines of the host, but little is known about the mechanisms that stabilize attachment in these conditions. Here, we describe the effect of varying levels of shear stress on attached T. cruzi epimastigotes using a parallel plate flow chamber. When flow is applied, parasites are partially dragged but maintain a connection to the surface via ~40 nm wide filaments (nanotubules) and the activity of flagella is reduced. When flow stops, parasites return near their original position and flagellar motion resumes. Nanotubule elongation increases with increasing shear stress and is consistent with a model of membrane tether extension under force. Fluorescent probes used to confirm membrane composition also show micron-wide anchoring pads at the distal end of the nanotubules. Multiple tethering accounts for more resistance to large shear stresses and for reduced flagellar movement when flow is stopped. The formation of membrane nanotubules is a possible mechanism to enhance adherence to host cells under shear stress, favoring the continuity of the parasite´s life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristhian David Perdomo-Gómez
- Laboratorio de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nancy E Ruiz-Uribe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Department of Physics, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - John Mario González
- Laboratorio de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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13
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McKenney EA, Hale AR, Anderson J, Larsen R, Grant C, Dunn RR. Hidden diversity: comparative functional morphology of humans and other species. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15148. [PMID: 37123005 PMCID: PMC10135406 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) morphology plays an important role in nutrition, health, and epidemiology; yet limited data on GI variation have been collected since 1885. Here we demonstrate that students can collect reliable data sets on gut morphology; when they do, they reveal greater morphological variation for some structures in the GI tract than has been documented in the published literature. We discuss trait variability both within and among species, and the implications of that variability for evolution and epidemiology. Our results show that morphological variation in the GI tract is associated with each organ's role in food processing. For example, the length of many structures was found to vary significantly with feeding strategy. Within species, the variability illustrated by the coefficients of variation suggests that selective constraints may vary with function. Within humans, we detected significant Pearson correlations between the volume of the liver and the length of the appendix (t-value = 2.5278, df = 28, p = 0.0174, corr = 0.4311) and colon (t-value = 2.0991, df = 19, p = 0.0494, corr = 0.4339), as well as between the lengths of the small intestine and colon (t-value = 2.1699, df = 17, p = 0.0445, corr = 0.4657), which are arguably the most vital organs in the gut for nutrient absorption. Notably, intraspecific variation in the small intestine can be associated with life history traits. In humans, females demonstrated consistently and significantly longer small intestines than males (t-value15 = 2.245, p = 0.0403). This finding supports the female canalization hypothesis, specifically, increased female investment in the digestion and absorption of lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A. McKenney
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Amanda R. Hale
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- SNA International for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, United States of America
| | - Janiaya Anderson
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Roxanne Larsen
- Office of Curricular Affairs, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Colleen Grant
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Robert R. Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
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14
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Mehdizadeh Allaf M, Fadlallah H, Jarrahi M, Peerhossaini H. Growth and pigment production of
Synechocystis
sp.
PCC
6803 under shear stress. CAN J CHEM ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/cjce.24546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Mehdizadeh Allaf
- Mechanics of Active Fluids and Bacterial Physics Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Western University London ON Canada
| | - Hadi Fadlallah
- Laboratoire AstroParticules et Cosmologie (APC) ‐ CNRS Université de Paris Paris France
| | | | - Hassan Peerhossaini
- Mechanics of Active Fluids and Bacterial Physics Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Western University London ON Canada
- Laboratoire AstroParticules et Cosmologie (APC) ‐ CNRS Université de Paris Paris France
- Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering Western University London ON Canada
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15
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Boisard J, Duvernois-Berthet E, Duval L, Schrével J, Guillou L, Labat A, Le Panse S, Prensier G, Ponger L, Florent I. Marine gregarine genomes reveal the breadth of apicomplexan diversity with a partially conserved glideosome machinery. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:485. [PMID: 35780080 PMCID: PMC9250747 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08700-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Our current view of the evolutionary history, coding and adaptive capacities of Apicomplexa, protozoan parasites of a wide range of metazoan, is currently strongly biased toward species infecting humans, as data on early diverging apicomplexan lineages infecting invertebrates is extremely limited. Here, we characterized the genome of the marine eugregarine Porospora gigantea, intestinal parasite of Lobsters, remarkable for the macroscopic size of its vegetative feeding forms (trophozoites) and its gliding speed, the fastest so far recorded for Apicomplexa. Two highly syntenic genomes named A and B were assembled. Similar in size (~ 9 Mb) and coding capacity (~ 5300 genes), A and B genomes are 10.8% divergent at the nucleotide level, corresponding to 16-38 My in divergent time. Orthogroup analysis across 25 (proto)Apicomplexa species, including Gregarina niphandrodes, showed that A and B are highly divergent from all other known apicomplexan species, revealing an unexpected breadth of diversity. Phylogenetically these two species branch sisters to Cephaloidophoroidea, and thus expand the known crustacean gregarine superfamily. The genomes were mined for genes encoding proteins necessary for gliding, a key feature of apicomplexans parasites, currently studied through the molecular model called glideosome. Sequence analysis shows that actin-related proteins and regulatory factors are strongly conserved within apicomplexans. In contrast, the predicted protein sequences of core glideosome proteins and adhesion proteins are highly variable among apicomplexan lineages, especially in gregarines. These results confirm the importance of studying gregarines to widen our biological and evolutionary view of apicomplexan species diversity, and to deepen our understanding of the molecular bases of key functions such as gliding, well known to allow access to the intracellular parasitic lifestyle in Apicomplexa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Boisard
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France. .,Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Structure et instabilité des génomes (STRING UMR 7196 CNRS/INSERM U1154), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, CP 26, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France. .,Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Evelyne Duvernois-Berthet
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA UMR 7221 CNRS), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, CP 32, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Linda Duval
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France
| | - Joseph Schrével
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France
| | - Laure Guillou
- CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, Sorbonne Université, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Amandine Labat
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Le Panse
- Plateforme d'Imagerie Merimage, FR2424, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Gérard Prensier
- Cell biology and Electron Microscopy Laboratory, François Rabelais University, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 3223 Cedex, Tours, BP, France
| | - Loïc Ponger
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Structure et instabilité des génomes (STRING UMR 7196 CNRS/INSERM U1154), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, INSERM, CP 26, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France.
| | - Isabelle Florent
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France.
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16
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Wu C, Zhang L, Liu B, Gao B, Huang C, Zhang J, Jin M, Wang H, Peng Y, Rice A, Hegazi E, Wilson K, Xu P, Xiao Y. Genomic features of the polyphagous cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:353. [PMID: 35525948 PMCID: PMC9080191 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08582-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis, is a highly polyphagous pest of many cultivated plants and crops in Africa and Europe. The genome of this pest will help us to further understand the molecular mechanisms of polyphagy. RESULTS Herein, the high-quality genome of S. littoralis was obtained by Pacific Bioscience (PacBio) sequencing. The assembled genome size of S. littoralis is 436.55 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 6.09 Mb, consisting of 17,207 annotated protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis shows that S. littoralis and its sibling species S. litura diverged about 5.44 million years ago. Expanded gene families were mainly involved in metabolic detoxification and tolerance to toxic xenobiotics based on GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway analysis. Comparative genomics analysis showed that gene families involved in detoxification and chemosensation were significantly expanded in S. littoralis, representing genetic characteristics related to polyphagy and an extensive host range. CONCLUSIONS We assembled and annotated the reference genome of S. littoralis, and revealed that this pest has the genetic features of strong detoxification capacity, consistent with it being a significant risk to a wide range of host crops. These data resources will provide support for risk assessment and early warning monitoring of major polyphagous agricultural pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wu
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.,Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bojia Gao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cong Huang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Minghui Jin
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hanyue Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Peng
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Annabel Rice
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Esmat Hegazi
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture Alexandria University, Alexandria, 22542, Egypt
| | - Kenneth Wilson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. .,Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Pengjun Xu
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. .,Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China.
| | - Yutao Xiao
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. .,Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture; Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
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17
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Alim-Marvasti A, Vakharia VN, Duncan JS. Multimodal prognostic features of seizure freedom in epilepsy surgery. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:499-508. [PMID: 35246493 PMCID: PMC9016256 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Accurate preoperative predictions of seizure freedom following surgery for focal drug resistant epilepsy remain elusive. Our objective was to systematically evaluate all meta-analyses of epilepsy surgery with seizure freedom as the primary outcome, to identify clinical features that are consistently prognostic and should be included in the future models. METHODS We searched PubMed and Cochrane using free-text and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. This study was registered on PROSPERO. We classified features as prognostic, non-prognostic and uncertain and into seven subcategories: 'clinical', 'imaging', 'neurophysiology', 'multimodal concordance', 'genetic', 'surgical technique' and 'pathology'. We propose a structural causal model based on these features. RESULTS We found 46 features from 38 meta-analyses over 22 years. The following were consistently prognostic across meta-analyses: febrile convulsions, hippocampal sclerosis, focal abnormal MRI, Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) coregistered to MRI, focal ictal/interictal EEG, EEG-MRI concordance, temporal lobe resections, complete excision, histopathological lesions, tumours and focal cortical dysplasia type IIb. Severe learning disability was predictive of poor prognosis. Others, including sex and side of resection, were non-prognostic. There were limited meta-analyses investigating genetic contributions, structural connectivity or multimodal concordance and few adjusted for known confounders or performed corrections for multiple comparisons. SIGNIFICANCE Seizure-free outcomes have not improved over decades of epilepsy surgery and despite a multitude of models, none prognosticate accurately. Our list of multimodal population-invariant prognostic features and proposed structural causal model may serve as an objective foundation for statistical adjustments of plausible confounders for use in high-dimensional models. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021185232.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alim-Marvasti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, UK .,Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vejay Niranjan Vakharia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, UK
| | - John Sidney Duncan
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, UK
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18
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Sáez A, Aguilar R, Ashworth L, Gleiser G, Morales CL, Traveset A, Aizen MA. Managed honeybees decrease pollination limitation in self-compatible but not in self-incompatible crops. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220086. [PMID: 35382601 PMCID: PMC8984806 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern agriculture is becoming increasingly pollinator-dependent. However, the global stock of domesticated honeybees is growing at a slower rate than its demand, while wild bees are declining worldwide. This uneven scenario of high pollinator demand and low pollinator availability can translate into increasing pollination limitation, reducing the yield of pollinator-dependent crops. However, overall assessments of crop pollination limitation and the factors determining its magnitude are missing. Based on 52 published studies including 30 crops, we conducted a meta-analysis comparing crop yield in pollen-supplemented versus open-pollinated flowers. We assessed the overall magnitude of pollination limitation and whether this magnitude was influenced by (i) the presence/absence of managed honeybees, (ii) crop compatibility system (i.e. self-compatible/self-incompatible) and (iii) the interaction between these two factors. Overall, pollen supplementation increased yield by approximately 34%, indicating sizable pollination limitation. Deployment of managed honeybees and self-compatibility were associated with lower pollination limitation. Particularly, active honeybee management decreased pollination limitation among self-compatible but apparently not among self-incompatible crops. These findings indicate that current pollination regimes are, in general, inadequate to maximize crop yield, even when including managed honeybees, and stress the need of transforming the pollination management paradigm of agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Sáez
- Grupo de Ecología de la Polinización (ECOPOL), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, Bariloche 8400, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Ramiro Aguilar
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica (LANASE), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 58190 Morelia, México
| | - Lorena Ashworth
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.,Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica (LANASE), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 58190 Morelia, México
| | - Gabriela Gleiser
- Grupo de Ecología de la Polinización (ECOPOL), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, Bariloche 8400, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Carolina L Morales
- Grupo de Ecología de la Polinización (ECOPOL), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, Bariloche 8400, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Marcelo A Aizen
- Grupo de Ecología de la Polinización (ECOPOL), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, Bariloche 8400, Rio Negro, Argentina.,Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin 14193, Germany
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19
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Horáčková V, Voleman L, Hagen KD, Petrů M, Vinopalová M, Weisz F, Janowicz N, Marková L, Motyčková A, Najdrová V, Tůmová P, Dawson SC, Doležal P. Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene disruption in the tetraploid protist Giardia intestinalis. Open Biol 2022; 12:210361. [PMID: 35472287 PMCID: PMC9042576 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing has become an extremely powerful technique used to modify gene expression in many organisms, including parasitic protists. Giardia intestinalis, a protist parasite that infects approximately 280 million people around the world each year, has been eluding the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to generate knockout cell lines due to its tetraploid genome. In this work, we show the ability of the in vitro assembled CRISPR/Cas9 components to successfully edit the genome of G. intestinalis. The cell line that stably expresses Cas9 in both nuclei of G. intestinalis showed effective recombination of the cassette containing the transcription units for the gRNA and the resistance marker. This highly efficient process led to the removal of all gene copies at once for three independent experimental genes, mem, cwp1 and mlf1. The method was also applicable to incomplete disruption of the essential gene, as evidenced by significantly reduced expression of tom40. Finally, testing the efficiency of Cas9-induced recombination revealed that homologous arms as short as 150 bp can be sufficient to establish a complete knockout cell line in G. intestinalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vendula Horáčková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Luboš Voleman
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Kari D. Hagen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Markéta Petrů
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Vinopalová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Weisz
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Natalia Janowicz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Marková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Alžběta Motyčková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimíra Najdrová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Tůmová
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Scott C. Dawson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Pavel Doležal
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Praha, Czech Republic
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20
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Peckre LR, Michiels A, Socias-Martínez L, Kappeler PM, Fichtel C. Sex differences in audience effects on anogenital scent marking in the red-fronted lemur. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5266. [PMID: 35347156 PMCID: PMC8960772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08861-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
How the presence of conspecifics affects scent mark deposition remains an understudied aspect of olfactory communication, even though scent marking occurs in different social contexts. Sex differences in scent-marking behaviour are common, and sex-specific effects of the audience could therefore be expected. We investigated sex differences in intra-group audience effects on anogenital scent marking in four groups of wild red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) by performing focal scent-marking observations. We observed a total of 327 events divided into 223 anogenital scent-marking events and 104 pass-by events (i.e. passage without scent marking). Using a combination of generalised linear mixed models and exponential random graph models, we found that scent marking in red-fronted lemurs is associated with some behavioural flexibility linked to the composition of the audience at the time of scent deposition. In particular, our study revealed sex differences in the audience effects, with males being overall more sensitive to their audience than females. Moreover, we show that these audience effects were dependent on the relative degree of social integration of the focal individual compared to that of individuals in the audience (difference in Composite Sociality Index) as well as the strength of the dyadic affiliative relationship (rank of Dyadic Composite Sociality Index within the group). The audience effects also varied as a function of the audience radius considered. Hence, we showed that scent marking in red-fronted lemurs is associated with some behavioural flexibility linked to the composition of the audience, ascribing red-fronted lemurs' social competence in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise R Peckre
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center GmbH-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.
- Cognitive Ethology Lab, German Primate Center GmbH-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Alexandra Michiels
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center GmbH-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lluís Socias-Martínez
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center GmbH-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute of Forest Growth and Forest Computer Sciences, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center GmbH-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Department Sociobiology/Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center GmbH-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
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21
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Wu NC, Seebacher F. Physiology can predict animal activity, exploration, and dispersal. Commun Biol 2022; 5:109. [PMID: 35115649 PMCID: PMC8814174 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03055-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiology can underlie movement, including short-term activity, exploration of unfamiliar environments, and larger scale dispersal, and thereby influence species distributions in an environmentally sensitive manner. We conducted meta-analyses of the literature to establish, firstly, whether physiological traits underlie activity, exploration, and dispersal by individuals (88 studies), and secondly whether physiological characteristics differed between range core and edges of distributions (43 studies). We show that locomotor performance and metabolism influenced individual movement with varying levels of confidence. Range edges differed from cores in traits that may be associated with dispersal success, including metabolism, locomotor performance, corticosterone levels, and immunity, and differences increased with increasing time since separation. Physiological effects were particularly pronounced in birds and amphibians, but taxon-specific differences may reflect biased sampling in the literature, which also focussed primarily on North America, Europe, and Australia. Hence, physiology can influence movement, but undersampling and bias currently limits general conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Wu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Frank Seebacher
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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22
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Secondary Structure and X-ray Crystallographic Analysis of the Glideosome-Associated Connector (GAC) from Toxoplasma gondii. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
A model for parasitic motility has been proposed in which parasite filamentous actin (F-actin) is attached to surface adhesins by a large component of the glideosome, known as the glideosome-associated connector protein (GAC). This large 286 kDa protein interacts at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane with the phosphatidic acid-enriched inner leaflet and cytosolic tails of surface adhesins to connect them to the parasite actomyosin system. GAC is observed initially to the conoid at the apical pole and re-localised with the glideosome to the basal pole in gliding parasite. GAC presumably functions in force transmission to surface adhesins in the plasma membrane and not in force generation. Proper connection between F-actin and the adhesins is as important for motility and invasion as motor operation itself. This notion highlights the need for new structural information on GAC interactions, which has eluded the field since its discovery. We have obtained crystals that diffracted to 2.6–2.9 Å for full-length GAC from Toxoplasma gondii in native and selenomethionine-labelled forms. These crystals belong to space group P212121; cell dimensions are roughly a = 119 Å, b = 123 Å, c = 221 Å, α = 90°, β = 90° and γ = 90° with 1 molecule per asymmetric unit, suggesting a more compact conformation than previously proposed
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23
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Cait J, Cait A, Scott RW, Winder CB, Mason GJ. Conventional laboratory housing increases morbidity and mortality in research rodents: results of a meta-analysis. BMC Biol 2022; 20:15. [PMID: 35022024 PMCID: PMC8756709 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01184-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over 120 million mice and rats are used annually in research, conventionally housed in shoebox-sized cages that restrict natural behaviours (e.g. nesting and burrowing). This can reduce physical fitness, impair thermoregulation and reduce welfare (e.g. inducing abnormal stereotypic behaviours). In humans, chronic stress has biological costs, increasing disease risks and potentially shortening life. Using a pre-registered protocol ( https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/xmlui/handle/10214/17955 ), this meta-analysis therefore tested the hypothesis that, compared to rodents in 'enriched' housing that better meets their needs, conventional housing increases stress-related morbidity and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Comprehensive searches (via Ovid, CABI, Web of Science, Proquest and SCOPUS on May 24 2020) yielded 10,094 publications. Screening for inclusion criteria (published in English, using mice or rats and providing 'enrichments' in long-term housing) yielded 214 studies (within 165 articles, using 6495 animals: 59.1% mice; 68.2% male; 31.8% isolation-housed), and data on all-cause mortality plus five experimentally induced stress-sensitive diseases: anxiety, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression and stroke. The Systematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool assessed individual studies' risks of bias. Random-effects meta-analyses supported the hypothesis: conventional housing significantly exacerbated disease severity with medium to large effect sizes: cancer (SMD = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.54-0.88); cardiovascular disease (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.35-1.09); stroke (SMD = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.59-1.15); signs of anxiety (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.56-1.25); signs of depression (SMD = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.98-1.49). It also increased mortality rates (hazard ratio = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.25-1.74; relative median survival = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.89-0.94). Meta-regressions indicated that such housing effects were ubiquitous across species and sexes, but could not identify the most impactful improvements to conventional housing. Data variability (assessed via coefficient of variation) was also not increased by 'enriched' housing. CONCLUSIONS Conventional housing appears sufficiently distressing to compromise rodent health, raising ethical concerns. Results also add to previous work to show that research rodents are typically CRAMPED (cold, rotund, abnormal, male-biased, poorly surviving, enclosed and distressed), raising questions about the validity and generalisability of the data they generate. This research was funded by NSERC, Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Cait
- Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alissa Cait
- Department of Translational Immunology, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - R Wilder Scott
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Applied Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Charlotte B Winder
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Georgia J Mason
- Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
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24
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Stadler RV, Nelson SR, Warshaw DM, Ward GE. A circular zone of attachment to the extracellular matrix provides directionality to the motility of Toxoplasma gondii in 3D. eLife 2022; 11:85171. [PMID: 36519527 PMCID: PMC9839348 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects 30-40% of the world's population. Infections are typically subclinical but can be severe and, in some cases, life threatening. Central to the virulence of T. gondii is an unusual form of substrate-dependent motility that enables the parasite to invade cells of its host and to disseminate throughout the body. A hetero-oligomeric complex of proteins that functions in motility has been characterized, but how these proteins work together to drive forward motion of the parasite remains controversial. A key piece of information needed to understand the underlying mechanism(s) is the directionality of the forces that a moving parasite exerts on the external environment. The linear motor model of motility, which has dominated the field for the past two decades, predicts continuous anterior-to-posterior force generation along the length of the parasite. We show here using three-dimensional traction force mapping that the predominant forces exerted by a moving parasite are instead periodic and directed in toward the parasite at a fixed circular location within the extracellular matrix. These highly localized forces, which are generated by the parasite pulling on the matrix, create a visible constriction in the parasite's plasma membrane. We propose that the ring of inward-directed force corresponds to a circumferential attachment zone between the parasite and the matrix, through which the parasite propels itself to move forward. The combined data suggest a closer connection between the mechanisms underlying parasite motility and host cell invasion than previously recognized. In parasites lacking the major surface adhesin, TgMIC2, neither the inward-directed forces nor the constriction of the parasite membrane are observed. The trajectories of the TgMIC2-deficient parasites are less straight than those of wild-type parasites, suggesting that the annular zone of TgMIC2-mediated attachment to the extracellular matrix normally constrains the directional options available to the parasite as it migrates through its surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel V Stadler
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of MedicineBurlingtonUnited States
| | - Shane R Nelson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont Larner College of MedicineBurlingtonUnited States
| | - David M Warshaw
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont Larner College of MedicineBurlingtonUnited States
| | - Gary E Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Larner College of MedicineBurlingtonUnited States
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25
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protist infecting a wide group of warm-blooded animals, ranging from birds to humans. While this infection is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it can also lead to severe ocular or neurological outcomes in immunocompromised individuals or in developing fetuses. This obligate intracellular parasite has the ability to infect a considerable range of nucleated cells and can propagate in the intermediate host. Yet, under the pressure of the immune system it transforms into an encysted persistent form residing primarily in the brain and muscle tissues. Encysted parasites, which are resistant to current medication, may reactivate and give rise to an acute infection. The clinical outcome of toxoplasmosis depends on a complex balance between the host immune response and parasite virulence factors. Susceptibility to the disease is thus determined by both parasite strains and host species. Recent advances on our understanding of host cell-parasite interactions and parasite virulence have brought new insights into the pathophysiology of T. gondii infection and are summarized here.
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26
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Ma X, Liu B, Gong Z, Qu Z, Cai J. Phosphoproteomic Comparison of Four Eimeria tenella Life Cycle Stages. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212110. [PMID: 34829991 PMCID: PMC8624187 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification (PTM) involved in diverse cellular functions. It is the most prevalent PTM in both Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, but its status in Eimeria tenella has not been reported. Herein, we performed a comprehensive, quantitative phosphoproteomic profile analysis of four stages of the E. tenella life cycle: unsporulated oocysts (USO), partially sporulated (7 h) oocysts (SO7h), sporulated oocysts (SO), and sporozoites (S). A total of 15,247 phosphorylation sites on 9514 phosphopeptides corresponding to 2897 phosphoproteins were identified across the four stages. In addition, 456, 479, and 198 differentially expressed phosphoproteins (DEPPs) were identified in the comparisons SO7h vs. USO, SO vs. SO7h, and S vs. SO, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of DEPPs suggested that they were involved in diverse functions. For SO7h vs. USO, DEPPs were mainly involved in cell division, actin cytoskeleton organization, positive regulation of transport, and pyruvate metabolism. For SO vs. SO7h, they were related to the peptide metabolic process, translation, and RNA transport. DEPPs in the S vs. SO comparison were associated with the tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, positive regulation of ATPase activity, and calcium ion binding. Time course sequencing data analysis (TCseq) identified six clusters with similar expression change characteristics related to carbohydrate metabolism, cytoskeleton organization, and calcium ion transport, demonstrating different regulatory profiles across the life cycle of E. tenella. The results revealed significant changes in the abundance of phosphoproteins during E. tenella development. The findings shed light on the key roles of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the E. tenella life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Baohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (J.C.); Tel.: +86-(931)-834-2580 (B.L.); +86-(931)-834-2489 (J.C.)
| | - Zhenxing Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zigang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jianping Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (X.M.); (Z.G.); (Z.Q.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (J.C.); Tel.: +86-(931)-834-2580 (B.L.); +86-(931)-834-2489 (J.C.)
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Sooreshjani MA, Kamra M, Zoubeidi A, Shah K. Reciprocal deregulation of NKX3.1 and AURKA axis in castration-resistant prostate cancer and NEPC models. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:68. [PMID: 34625072 PMCID: PMC8499580 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00765-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background NKX3.1, a prostate-specific tumor suppressor, is either genomically lost or its protein levels are severely downregulated, which are invariably associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer (PCa). Nevertheless, a clear disconnect exists between its mRNA and protein levels, indicating that its post-translational regulation may be critical in maintaining its protein levels. Similarly, AURKA is vastly overexpressed in all stages of prostate cancer (PCa), including castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) and neuroendocrine PCa (NEPC), although its transcripts are only increased in ~ 15% of cases, hinting at additional mechanisms of deregulation. Thus, identifying the upstream regulators that control AURKA and NKX3.1’s levels and/or their downstream effectors offer an alternative route to inhibit AURKA and upregulate NKX3.1 in highly fatal CRPC and NEPC. AURKA and NKX3.1 have not linked to each other in any study to date. Methods A chemical genetic screen revealed NKX3.1 as a direct target of AURKA. AURKA-NKX3.1 cross-talk was analyzed using several biochemical techniques in CRPC and NEPC cells. Results We uncovered a reciprocal loop between AURKA and NKX3.1 in CRPC and NEPC cells. We observed that AURKA-mediated NKX3.1 downregulation is a major mechanism that drives CRPC pathogenesis and NEPC differentiation. AURKA phosphorylates NKX3.1 at three sites, which degrades it, but AURKA does not regulate NKX3.1 mRNA levels. NKX3.1 degradation drives highly aggressive oncogenic phenotypes in cells. NKX3.1 also degrades AURKA in a feedback loop. NKX3.1-AURKA loop thus upregulates AKT, ARv7 and Androgen Receptor (AR)-signaling in tandem promoting highly malignant phenotypes. Just as importantly, we observed that NKX3.1 overexpression fully abolished synaptophysin and enolase expression in NEPC cells, uncovering a strong negative relationship between NKX3.1 and neuroendocrine phenotypes, which was further confirmed be measuring neurite outgrowth. While WT-NKX3.1 inhibited neuronal differentiation, 3A-NKX3.1 expression obliterated it. Conclusions NKX3.1 loss could be a major mechanism causing AURKA upregulation in CRPC and NEPC and vice versa. NKX3.1 genomic loss requires gene therapy, nonetheless, targeting AURKA provides a powerful tool to maintain NKX3.1 levels. Conversely, when NKX3.1 upregulation strategy using small molecules comes to fruition, AURKA inhibition should work synergistically due to the reciprocal loop in these highly aggressive incurable diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-021-00765-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moloud Aflaki Sooreshjani
- Department of Chemistry and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Mohini Kamra
- Department of Chemistry and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Amina Zoubeidi
- Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Kavita Shah
- Department of Chemistry and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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28
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Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, are the cause of many important human and animal diseases. While T. gondii tachyzoites replicate through endodyogeny, during which two daughter cells are formed within the parental cell, P. falciparum replicates through schizogony, where up to 32 parasites are formed in a single infected red blood cell and even thousands of daughter cells during mosquito- or liver-stage development. These processes require a tightly orchestrated division and distribution over the daughter parasites of one-per-cell organelles such as the mitochondrion and apicoplast. Although proper organelle segregation is highly essential, the molecular mechanism and the key proteins involved remain largely unknown. In this review, we describe organelle dynamics during cell division in T. gondii and P. falciparum, summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying organelle fission in these parasites, and introduce candidate fission proteins.
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29
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Duart G, García-Murria MJ, Mingarro I. The SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein has evolved towards membrane topology robustness. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183608. [PMID: 33771486 PMCID: PMC7987508 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Single-spanning SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein topology is a major determinant of protein quaternary structure and function. Charged residues distribution in E protein sequences from highly pathogenic human coronaviruses (i.e., SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) stabilize Ntout-Ctin membrane topology. E protein sequence could have evolved to ensure a more robust membrane topology from MERS-CoV to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Duart
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Maria J García-Murria
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Ismael Mingarro
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain.
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30
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Blocking Palmitoylation of Toxoplasma gondii Myosin Light Chain 1 Disrupts Glideosome Composition but Has Little Impact on Parasite Motility. mSphere 2021; 6:6/3/e00823-20. [PMID: 34011689 PMCID: PMC8265671 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00823-20] [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] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread apicomplexan parasite that causes severe disease in immunocompromised individuals and the developing fetus. Like other apicomplexans, T. gondii uses an unusual form of substrate-dependent gliding motility to invade cells of its hosts and to disseminate throughout the body during infection. It is well established that a myosin motor consisting of a class XIVa heavy chain (TgMyoA) and two light chains (TgMLC1 and TgELC1/2) plays an important role in parasite motility. The ability of the motor to generate force at the parasite periphery is thought to be reliant upon its anchoring and immobilization within a peripheral membrane-bound compartment, the inner membrane complex (IMC). The motor does not insert into the IMC directly; rather, this interaction is believed to be mediated by the binding of TgMLC1 to the IMC-anchored protein, TgGAP45. Therefore, the binding of TgMLC1 to TgGAP45 is considered a key element in the force transduction machinery of the parasite. TgMLC1 is palmitoylated, and we show here that palmitoylation occurs on two N-terminal cysteine residues, C8 and C11. Mutations that block TgMLC1 palmitoylation completely abrogate the binding of TgMLC1 to TgGAP45. Surprisingly, the loss of TgMLC1 binding to TgGAP45 in these mutant parasites has little effect on their ability to initiate or sustain movement. These results question a key tenet of the current model of apicomplexan motility and suggest that our understanding of gliding motility in this important group of human and animal pathogens is not yet complete. IMPORTANCE Gliding motility plays a central role in the life cycle of T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites. The myosin motor thought to power motility is essential for virulence but distinctly different from the myosins found in humans. Consequently, an understanding of the mechanism(s) underlying parasite motility and the role played by this unusual myosin may reveal points of vulnerability that can be targeted for disease prevention or treatment. We show here that mutations that uncouple the motor from what is thought to be a key structural component of the motility machinery have little impact on parasite motility. This finding runs counter to predictions of the current, widely held “linear motor” model of motility, highlighting the need for further studies to fully understand how apicomplexan parasites generate the forces necessary to move into, out of, and between cells of the hosts they infect.
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31
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Das S, Stortz JF, Meissner M, Periz J. The multiple functions of actin in apicomplexan parasites. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13345. [PMID: 33885206 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The cytoskeletal protein actin is highly abundant and conserved in eukaryotic cells. It occurs in two different states- the globular (G-actin) form, which can polymerise into the filamentous (F-actin) form, fulfilling various critical functions including cytokinesis, cargo trafficking and cellular motility. In higher eukaryotes, there are several actin isoforms with nearly identical amino acid sequences. Despite the high level of amino acid identity, they display regulated expression patterns and unique non-redundant roles. The number of actin isoforms together with conserved sequences may reflect the selective pressure exerted by scores of actin binding proteins (ABPs) in higher eukaryotes. In contrast, in many protozoans such as apicomplexan parasites which possess only a few ABPs, the regulatory control of actin and its multiple functions are still obscure. Here, we provide a summary of the regulation and biological functions of actin in higher eukaryotes and compare it with the current knowledge in apicomplexans. We discuss future experiments that will help us understand the multiple, critical roles of this fascinating system in apicomplexans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujaan Das
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Felix Stortz
- Department Metabolism of Infection, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Markus Meissner
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Javier Periz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
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32
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Higareda Alvear VM, Mateos M, Cortez D, Tamborindeguy C, Martinez-Romero E. Differential gene expression in a tripartite interaction: Drosophila, Spiroplasma and parasitic wasps. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11020. [PMID: 33717711 PMCID: PMC7937342 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several facultative bacterial symbionts of insects protect their hosts against natural enemies. Spiroplasma poulsonii strain sMel (hereafter Spiroplasma), a male-killing heritable symbiont of Drosophila melanogaster, confers protection against some species of parasitic wasps. Several lines of evidence suggest that Spiroplasma-encoded ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) are involved in the protection mechanism, but the potential contribution of the fly-encoded functions (e.g., immune response), has not been deeply explored. METHODS Here we used RNA-seq to evaluate the response of D. melanogaster to infection by Spiroplasma and parasitism by the Spiroplasma-susceptible wasp Leptopilina heterotoma, and the Spiroplasma-resistant wasp Ganaspis sp. In addition, we used quantitative (q)PCR to evaluate the transcript levels of the Spiroplasma-encoded Ribosomal inactivation protein (RIP) genes. RESULTS In the absence of Spiroplasma infection, we found evidence of Drosophila immune activation by Ganaspis sp., but not by L. heterotoma, which in turn negatively influenced functions associated with male gonad development. As expected for a symbiont that kills males, we detected extensive downregulation in the Spiroplasma-infected treatments of genes known to have male-biased expression. We detected very few genes whose expression patterns appeared to be influenced by the Spiroplasma-L. heterotoma interaction, and these genes are not known to be associated with immune response. For most of these genes, parasitism by L. heterotoma (in the absence of Spiroplasma) caused an expression change that was at least partly reversed when both L. heterotoma and Spiroplasma were present. It is unclear whether such genes are involved in the Spiroplasma-mediated mechanism that leads to wasp death and/or fly rescue. Nonetheless, the expression pattern of some of these genes, which reportedly undergo expression shifts during the larva-to-pupa transition, is suggestive of an influence of Spiroplasma on the development time of L. heterotoma-parasitized flies. One of the five RIP genes (RIP2) was consistently highly expressed independently of wasp parasitism, in two substrains of sMel. Finally, the RNAseq data revealed evidence consistent with RIP-induced damage in the ribosomal (r)RNA of the Spiroplasma-susceptible, but not the Spiroplasma-resistant, wasp. Acknowledging the caveat that we lacked adequate power to detect the majority of DE genes with fold-changes lower than 3, we conclude that immune priming is unlikely to contribute to the Spiroplasma-mediated protection against wasps, and that the mechanism by which Ganaspis sp. resists/tolerates Spiroplasma does not involve inhibition of RIP transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariana Mateos
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Diego Cortez
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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Carmeille R, Schiano Lomoriello P, Devarakonda PM, Kellermeier JA, Heaslip AT. Actin and an unconventional myosin motor, TgMyoF, control the organization and dynamics of the endomembrane network in Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1008787. [PMID: 33529198 PMCID: PMC7880465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that relies on three distinct secretory organelles, the micronemes, rhoptries, and dense granules, for parasite survival and disease pathogenesis. Secretory proteins destined for these organelles are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and sequentially trafficked through a highly polarized endomembrane network that consists of the Golgi and multiple post-Golgi compartments. Currently, little is known about how the parasite cytoskeleton controls the positioning of the organelles in this pathway, or how vesicular cargo is trafficked between organelles. Here we show that F-actin and an unconventional myosin motor, TgMyoF, control the dynamics and organization of the organelles in the secretory pathway, specifically ER tubule movement, apical positioning of the Golgi and post-Golgi compartments, apical positioning of the rhoptries, and finally, the directed transport of Rab6-positive and Rop1-positive vesicles. Thus, this study identifies TgMyoF and actin as the key cytoskeletal components that organize the endomembrane system in T. gondii. Endomembrane trafficking is a vital cellular process in all eukaryotic cells. In most cases the molecular motors myosin, kinesin, and dynein transport cargo including vesicles, organelles and transcripts along actin and microtubule filaments in a manner analogous to a train moving on its tracks. For the unicellular eukaryote Toxoplasma gondii, the accurate trafficking of proteins through the endomembrane system is vital for parasite survival and pathogenicity. However, the mechanisms of cargo transport in this parasite are poorly understood. In this study, we fluorescently labeled multiple endomembrane organelles and imaged their movements using live cell microscopy. We demonstrate that filamentous actin and an unconventional myosin motor named TgMyoF control both the positioning of organelles in this pathway and the movement of transport vesicles throughout the parasite cytosol. This data provides new insight into the mechanisms of cargo transport in this important pathogen and expands our understanding of the biological roles of actin in the intracellular phase of the parasite’s growth cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Carmeille
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Porfirio Schiano Lomoriello
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Parvathi M. Devarakonda
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jacob A. Kellermeier
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Aoife T. Heaslip
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Phosphorylation-dependent regulation of SPOP by LIMK2 promotes castration-resistant prostate cancer. Br J Cancer 2020; 124:995-1008. [PMID: 33311589 PMCID: PMC7921662 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-01197-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SPOP, an E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor, can act either as a tumour suppressor or a tumour promoter. In prostate cancer (PCa), it inhibits tumorigenesis by degrading several oncogenic substrates. SPOP is the most altered gene in PCa (~15%), which renders it ineffective, promoting cancer. The remaining PCa tumours, which retain WT-SPOP, still progress to castration-resistant (CRPC) stage, indicating that other critical mechanisms exist for downregulating SPOP. SPOP is reduced in ~94% of WT-SPOP-bearing prostate tumours; however, no molecular mechanism is known for its downregulation. METHODS SPOP was identified as a direct target of LIMK2 using an innovative technique. The reciprocal relationship between SPOP and LIMK2 and its consequences on oncogenicity were analysed using a variety of biochemical assays. To probe this relationship in vivo, xenograft studies were conducted. RESULTS LIMK2 degrades SPOP by direct phosphorylation at three sites. SPOP promotes LIMK2's ubiquitylation, creating a feedback loop. SPOP's degradation stabilises AR, ARv7 and c-Myc promoting oncogenicity. Phospho-resistant SPOP completely suppresses tumorigenesis in vivo, indicating that LIMK2-mediated SPOP degradation is a key event in PCa progression. CONCLUSIONS While genomically altered SPOP-bearing tumours require gene therapy, uncovering LIMK2-SPOP relationship provides a powerful opportunity to retain WT-SPOP by inhibiting LIMK2, thereby halting disease progression.
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Binsley JL, Martin EL, Myers TO, Pagliara S, Ogrin FY. Microfluidic devices powered by integrated elasto-magnetic pumps. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:4285-4295. [PMID: 33094306 PMCID: PMC7654506 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00935k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We show how an asymmetric elasto-magnetic system provides a novel integrated pumping solution for lab-on-a-chip and point of care devices. This monolithic pumping solution, inspired by Purcell's 3-link swimmer, is integrated within a simple microfluidic device, bypassing the requirement of external connections. We experimentally prove that this system can provide tuneable fluid flow with a flow rate of up to 600 μL h-1. This fluid flow is achieved by actuating the pump using a weak, uniform, uniaxial, oscillating magnetic field, with field amplitudes in the range of 3-6 mT. Crucially, the fluid flow can be reversed by adjusting the driving frequency. We experimentally prove that this device can successfully operate on fluids with a range of viscosities, where pumping at higher viscosity correlates with a decreasing optimal driving frequency. The fluid flow produced by this device is understood here by examining the non-reciprocal motion of the elasto-magnetic component. This device has the capability to replace external pumping systems with a simple, integrated, lab-on-a-chip component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob L Binsley
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Physics Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK.
| | - Elizabeth L Martin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Physics Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK.
| | - Thomas O Myers
- Platform Kinetics Limited, Pegholme, Wharfebank Mills, Otley, LS21 3JP, UK
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Living Systems Institute, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Feodor Y Ogrin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Physics Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK.
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Blake TCA, Haase S, Baum J. Actomyosin forces and the energetics of red blood cell invasion by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1009007. [PMID: 33104759 PMCID: PMC7644091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
All symptoms of malaria disease are associated with the asexual blood stages of development, involving cycles of red blood cell (RBC) invasion and egress by the Plasmodium spp. merozoite. Merozoite invasion is rapid and is actively powered by a parasite actomyosin motor. The current accepted model for actomyosin force generation envisages arrays of parasite myosins, pushing against short actin filaments connected to the external milieu that drive the merozoite forwards into the RBC. In Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent human malaria species, Myosin A (PfMyoA) is critical for parasite replication. However, the precise function of PfMyoA in invasion, its regulation, the role of other myosins and overall energetics of invasion remain unclear. Here, we developed a conditional mutagenesis strategy combined with live video microscopy to probe PfMyoA function and that of the auxiliary motor PfMyoB in invasion. By imaging conditional mutants with increasing defects in force production, based on disruption to a key PfMyoA phospho-regulation site, the absence of the PfMyoA essential light chain, or complete motor absence, we define three distinct stages of incomplete RBC invasion. These three defects reveal three energetic barriers to successful entry: RBC deformation (pre-entry), mid-invasion initiation, and completion of internalisation, each requiring an active parasite motor. In defining distinct energetic barriers to invasion, these data illuminate the mechanical challenges faced in this remarkable process of protozoan parasitism, highlighting distinct myosin functions and identifying potential targets for preventing malaria pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C. A. Blake
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Haase
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
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Royes J, Biou V, Dautin N, Tribet C, Miroux B. Inducible intracellular membranes: molecular aspects and emerging applications. Microb Cell Fact 2020; 19:176. [PMID: 32887610 PMCID: PMC7650269 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-020-01433-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane remodeling and phospholipid biosynthesis are normally tightly regulated to maintain the shape and function of cells. Indeed, different physiological mechanisms ensure a precise coordination between de novo phospholipid biosynthesis and modulation of membrane morphology. Interestingly, the overproduction of certain membrane proteins hijack these regulation networks, leading to the formation of impressive intracellular membrane structures in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The proteins triggering an abnormal accumulation of membrane structures inside the cells (or membrane proliferation) share two major common features: (1) they promote the formation of highly curved membrane domains and (2) they lead to an enrichment in anionic, cone-shaped phospholipids (cardiolipin or phosphatidic acid) in the newly formed membranes. Taking into account the available examples of membrane proliferation upon protein overproduction, together with the latest biochemical, biophysical and structural data, we explore the relationship between protein synthesis and membrane biogenesis. We propose a mechanism for the formation of these non-physiological intracellular membranes that shares similarities with natural inner membrane structures found in α-proteobacteria, mitochondria and some viruses-infected cells, pointing towards a conserved feature through evolution. We hope that the information discussed in this review will give a better grasp of the biophysical mechanisms behind physiological and induced intracellular membrane proliferation, and inspire new applications, either for academia (high-yield membrane protein production and nanovesicle production) or industry (biofuel production and vaccine preparation).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Royes
- Laboratoire de Biologie Physico-Chimique des Protéines Membranaires, Université de Paris, LBPC-PM, CNRS, UMR7099, 75005, Paris, France. .,Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild pour le Développement de la Recherche Scientifique, 75005, Paris, France. .,Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PASTEUR, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Valérie Biou
- Laboratoire de Biologie Physico-Chimique des Protéines Membranaires, Université de Paris, LBPC-PM, CNRS, UMR7099, 75005, Paris, France.,Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild pour le Développement de la Recherche Scientifique, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Dautin
- Laboratoire de Biologie Physico-Chimique des Protéines Membranaires, Université de Paris, LBPC-PM, CNRS, UMR7099, 75005, Paris, France.,Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild pour le Développement de la Recherche Scientifique, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Tribet
- Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PASTEUR, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Miroux
- Laboratoire de Biologie Physico-Chimique des Protéines Membranaires, Université de Paris, LBPC-PM, CNRS, UMR7099, 75005, Paris, France. .,Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild pour le Développement de la Recherche Scientifique, 75005, Paris, France.
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Pavlou G, Touquet B, Vigetti L, Renesto P, Bougdour A, Debarre D, Balland M, Tardieux I. Coupling Polar Adhesion with Traction, Spring, and Torque Forces Allows High-Speed Helical Migration of the Protozoan Parasite Toxoplasma. ACS NANO 2020; 14:7121-7139. [PMID: 32432851 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c01893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Among the eukaryotic cells that navigate through fully developed metazoan tissues, protozoans from the Apicomplexa phylum have evolved motile developmental stages that move much faster than the fastest crawling cells owing to a peculiar substrate-dependent type of motility, known as gliding. Best-studied models are the Plasmodium sporozoite and the Toxoplasma tachyzoite polarized cells for which motility is vital to achieve their developmental programs in the metazoan hosts. The gliding machinery is shared between the two parasites and is largely characterized. Localized beneath the cell surface, it includes actin filaments, unconventional myosin motors housed within a multimember glideosome unit, and apically secreted transmembrane adhesins. In contrast, less is known about the force mechanisms powering cell movement. Pioneered biophysical studies on the sporozoite and phenotypic analysis of tachyzoite actin-related mutants have added complexity to the general view that force production for parasite forward movement directly results from the myosin-driven rearward motion of the actin-coupled adhesion sites. Here, we have interrogated how forces and substrate adhesion-de-adhesion cycles operate and coordinate to allow the typical left-handed helical gliding mode of the tachyzoite. By combining quantitative traction force and reflection interference microscopy with micropatterning and expansion microscopy, we unveil at the millisecond and nanometer scales the integration of a critical apical anchoring adhesion with specific traction and spring-like forces. We propose that the acto-myoA motor directs the traction force which allows transient energy storage by the microtubule cytoskeleton and therefore sets the thrust force required for T. gondii tachyzoite vital helical gliding capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Pavlou
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Bastien Touquet
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Luis Vigetti
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Patricia Renesto
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
- TIMC-IMAG UMR 5525 - UGA CNRS, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Alexandre Bougdour
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions & Immunity to Infections, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Delphine Debarre
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, UMR CNRS, 5588, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble 38402, France
| | - Martial Balland
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, UMR CNRS, 5588, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble 38402, France
| | - Isabelle Tardieux
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38700 Grenoble, France
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Spielmann T, Gras S, Sabitzki R, Meissner M. Endocytosis in Plasmodium and Toxoplasma Parasites. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:520-532. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Venugopal K, Chehade S, Werkmeister E, Barois N, Periz J, Lafont F, Tardieux I, Khalife J, Langsley G, Meissner M, Marion S. Rab11A regulates dense granule transport and secretion during Toxoplasma gondii invasion of host cells and parasite replication. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008106. [PMID: 32463830 PMCID: PMC7255593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii possesses an armada of secreted virulent factors that enable parasite invasion and survival into host cells. These factors are contained in specific secretory organelles, the rhoptries, micronemes and dense granules that release their content upon host cell recognition. Dense granules are secreted in a constitutive manner during parasite replication and play a crucial role in modulating host metabolic and immune responses. While the molecular mechanisms triggering rhoptry and microneme release upon host cell adhesion have been well studied, constitutive secretion remains a poorly explored aspect of T. gondii vesicular trafficking. Here, we investigated the role of the small GTPase Rab11A, a known regulator of exocytosis in eukaryotic cells. Our data revealed an essential role of Rab11A in promoting the cytoskeleton driven transport of dense granules and the release of their content into the vacuolar space. Rab11A also regulates transmembrane protein trafficking and localization during parasite replication, indicating a broader role of Rab11A in cargo exocytosis at the plasma membrane. Moreover, we found that Rab11A also regulates extracellular parasite motility and adhesion to host cells. In line with these findings, MIC2 secretion was altered in Rab11A-defective parasites, which also exhibited severe morphological defects. Strikingly, by live imaging we observed a polarized accumulation of Rab11A-positive vesicles and dense granules at the apical pole of extracellular motile and invading parasites suggesting that apically polarized Rab11A-dependent delivery of cargo regulates early secretory events during parasite entry into host cells. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a highly prevalent parasite infecting a wide range of animals as well as humans. T. gondii secretes numerous virulent factors contained in specific organelles, termed the rhoptries, micronemes and dense granules. These factors are released upon host cell recognition and enable parasite invasion and subsequent development into an intracellular vacuole. In particular, dense granules contain critical effectors that modulate intrinsic defenses of infected host cells ensuring parasite survival and dissemination. The mechanisms regulating dense granule secretion have not been elucidated. In this study, we unraveled a novel role for the T. gondii GTPase Rab11A in promoting dense granule transport along the parasite cytoskeleton and their content release into the vacuolar space during parasite replication. We also found that T. gondii Rab11A regulates extracellular parasite motility and adhesion to host cells suggesting a broader role in distinct secretory pathways essential for parasite virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannan Venugopal
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Sylia Chehade
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Elisabeth Werkmeister
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nicolas Barois
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Javier Periz
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Lafont
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Tardieux
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Jamal Khalife
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Gordon Langsley
- Laboratoire de Biologie Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, France, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Markus Meissner
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabrina Marion
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
- * E-mail:
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Del Rosario M, Periz J, Pavlou G, Lyth O, Latorre‐Barragan F, Das S, Pall GS, Stortz JF, Lemgruber L, Whitelaw JA, Baum J, Tardieux I, Meissner M. Apicomplexan F-actin is required for efficient nuclear entry during host cell invasion. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:e48896. [PMID: 31584242 PMCID: PMC6893294 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201948896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. invade host cells by injecting a protein complex into the membrane of the targeted cell that bridges the two cells through the assembly of a ring-like junction. This circular junction stretches while the parasites apply a traction force to pass through, a step that typically concurs with transient constriction of the parasite body. Here we analyse F-actin dynamics during host cell invasion. Super-resolution microscopy and real-time imaging highlighted an F-actin pool at the apex of pre-invading parasite, an F-actin ring at the junction area during invasion but also networks of perinuclear and posteriorly localised F-actin. Mutant parasites with dysfunctional acto-myosin showed significant decrease of junctional and perinuclear F-actin and are coincidently affected in nuclear passage through the junction. We propose that the F-actin machinery eases nuclear passage by stabilising the junction and pushing the nucleus through the constriction. Our analysis suggests that the junction opposes resistance to the passage of the parasite's nucleus and provides the first evidence for a dual contribution of actin-forces during host cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Del Rosario
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Javier Periz
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Georgios Pavlou
- Institute for Advanced BiosciencesCNRS, UMR5309, INSERM U1209Université Grenoble AlpesGrenobleFrance
| | - Oliver Lyth
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Fernanda Latorre‐Barragan
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- Faculty of Science, Food Engineering and BiotechnologyTechnical University of AmbatoAmbatoEcuador
| | - Sujaan Das
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Gurman S Pall
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Johannes Felix Stortz
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Leandro Lemgruber
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | | | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Isabelle Tardieux
- Institute for Advanced BiosciencesCNRS, UMR5309, INSERM U1209Université Grenoble AlpesGrenobleFrance
| | - Markus Meissner
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative ParasitologyInstitute of InfectionImmunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- Experimental ParasitologyDepartment for Veterinary SciencesLudwig‐Maximilians‐University Munich MunichGermany
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Hunt A, Russell MRG, Wagener J, Kent R, Carmeille R, Peddie CJ, Collinson L, Heaslip A, Ward GE, Treeck M. Differential requirements for cyclase-associated protein (CAP) in actin-dependent processes of Toxoplasma gondii. eLife 2019; 8:e50598. [PMID: 31577230 PMCID: PMC6785269 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii contains a limited subset of actin binding proteins. Here we show that the putative actin regulator cyclase-associated protein (CAP) is present in two different isoforms and its deletion leads to significant defects in some but not all actin dependent processes. We observe defects in cell-cell communication, daughter cell orientation and the juxtanuclear accumulation of actin, but only modest defects in synchronicity of division and no defect in the replication of the apicoplast. 3D electron microscopy reveals that loss of CAP results in a defect in formation of a normal central residual body, but parasites remain connected within the vacuole. This dissociates synchronicity of division and parasite rosetting and reveals that establishment and maintenance of the residual body may be more complex than previously thought. These results highlight the different spatial requirements for F-actin regulation in Toxoplasma which appear to be achieved by partially overlapping functions of actin regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Hunt
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Jeanette Wagener
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Robyn Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of Vermont Larner College of MedicineBurlingtonUnited States
| | - Romain Carmeille
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsUnited States
| | - Christopher J Peddie
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Lucy Collinson
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Aoife Heaslip
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsUnited States
| | - Gary E Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of Vermont Larner College of MedicineBurlingtonUnited States
| | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
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Periz J, Del Rosario M, McStea A, Gras S, Loney C, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez ML, Meissner M. A highly dynamic F-actin network regulates transport and recycling of micronemes in Toxoplasma gondii vacuoles. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4183. [PMID: 31519913 PMCID: PMC6744512 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12136-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii replicates in an unusual process, described as internal budding. Multiple dausghter parasites are formed sequentially within a single mother cell, requiring replication and distribution of essential organelles such as micronemes. These organelles are thought to be formed de novo in the developing daughter cells. Using dual labelling of a microneme protein MIC2 and super-resolution microscopy, we show that micronemes are recycled from the mother to the forming daughter parasites using a highly dynamic F-actin network. While this recycling pathway is F-actin dependent, de novo synthesis of micronemes appears to be F-actin independent. The F-actin network connects individual parasites, supports long, multidirectional vesicular transport, and regulates transport, density and localisation of micronemal vesicles. The residual body acts as a storage and sorting station for these organelles. Our data describe an F-actin dependent mechanism in apicomplexans for transport and recycling of maternal organelles during intracellular development. Replication of Toxoplasma gondii requires replication and distribution of essential organelles such as micronemes. Here, Periz et al. show that micronemes are recycled from the mother to the forming daughter cells using a highly dynamic F-actin network that supports multidirectional vesicle transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Periz
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Mario Del Rosario
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alexandra McStea
- Central Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell Science & Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Simon Gras
- Experimental Parasitology, Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Colin Loney
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Sir Michael Stoker Building, Garscube Campus, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lin Wang
- Central Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell Science & Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Marisa L Martin-Fernandez
- Central Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell Science & Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Markus Meissner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. .,Experimental Parasitology, Department for Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
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González LM, Estrada K, Grande R, Jiménez-Jacinto V, Vega-Alvarado L, Sevilla E, de la Barrera J, Cuesta I, Zaballos Á, Bautista JM, Lobo CA, Sánchez-Flores A, Montero E. Comparative and functional genomics of the protozoan parasite Babesia divergens highlighting the invasion and egress processes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007680. [PMID: 31425518 PMCID: PMC6715253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is considered an emerging disease because its incidence has significantly increased in the last 30 years, providing evidence of the expanding range of this rare but potentially life-threatening zoonotic disease. Babesia divergens is a causative agent of babesiosis in humans and cattle in Europe. The recently sequenced genome of B. divergens revealed over 3,741 protein coding-genes and the 10.7-Mb high-quality draft become the first reference tool to study the genome structure of B. divergens. Now, by exploiting this sequence data and using new computational tools and assembly strategies, we have significantly improved the quality of the B. divergens genome. The new assembly shows better continuity and has a higher correspondence to B. bovis chromosomes. Moreover, we present a differential expression analysis using RNA sequencing of the two different stages of the asexual lifecycle of B. divergens: the free merozoite capable of invading erythrocytes and the intraerythrocytic parasite stage that remains within the erythrocyte until egress. Comparison of mRNA levels of both stages identified 1,441 differentially expressed genes. From these, around half were upregulated and the other half downregulated in the intraerythrocytic stage. Orthogonal validation by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR confirmed the differential expression. A moderately increased expression level of genes, putatively involved in the invasion and egress processes, were revealed in the intraerythrocytic stage compared with the free merozoite. On the basis of these results and in the absence of molecular models of invasion and egress for B. divergens, we have proposed the identified genes as putative molecular players in the invasion and egress processes. Our results contribute to an understanding of key parasitic strategies and pathogenesis and could be a valuable genomic resource to exploit for the design of diagnostic methods, drugs and vaccines to improve the control of babesiosis. Babesiosis has long been recognized as an economically important disease of cattle, but only in the last 40 years has Babesia been recognized as an important pathogen in humans. Babesiosis in humans is caused by one of several species (B. microti, B. divergens, B. duncani and B. venatorum). The complete Babesia lifecycle requires two hosts, the ixodid ticks and a vertebrate host. It is the parasite's ability to first recognize and then invade host erythrocytes that is central to the pathogenesis of babesiosis. Once inside the cell, the parasite begins a cycle of maturation and growth, resulting in merozoites that egress from the red blood cells (RBCs) and seek new, uninfected RBCs to invade, perpetuating the infection. To better understand this asexual lifecycle, the authors focused on the parasite genome and transcriptome of the asexual erythrocytic forms of B. divergens. Through this functional and comparative genomic approach, the authors have identified genes putatively involved in invasion, gliding motility, moving junction formation and egress, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of these processes necessary for B. divergens to survive and propagate during its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Miguel González
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, ISCIII Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Karel Estrada
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Ricardo Grande
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Verónica Jiménez-Jacinto
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
| | | | - Elena Sevilla
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, ISCIII Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge de la Barrera
- Unidad de Bioinformática, Área de Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Cuesta
- Unidad de Bioinformática, Área de Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Zaballos
- Unidad de Genómica, Área de Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Bautista
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cheryl A. Lobo
- Blood Borne Parasites, LFKRI, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Alejandro Sánchez-Flores
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
- * E-mail: (ASF); (EM)
| | - Estrella Montero
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, ISCIII Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (ASF); (EM)
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Intracellular protozoan parasites: living probes of the host cell surface molecular repertoire. Curr Opin Microbiol 2019; 52:116-123. [PMID: 31349210 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular protozoans co-evolved with their mammalian host cells a range of strategies to cope with the composite and dynamic cell surface features they encounter during migration and infection. Therefore, these single-celled eukaryotic parasites represent a fascinating source of living probes for precisely capturing the dynamic coupling between the membrane and contractile cortex components of the cell surface. Such biomechanical changes drive a constant re-sculpting of the host cell surface, enabling rapid adjustments that contribute to cellular homeostasis. As emphasized in this review, through the design of specific molecular devices and stratagems to interfere with the biomechanics of the mammalian cell surface these parasitic microbes escape from dangerous or unfavourable microenvironments by breaching host cell membranes, directing the membrane repair machinery to wounded membrane areas, or minimizing membrane assault using discretion and speed when invading host cells for sustained residence.
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Stortz JF, Del Rosario M, Singer M, Wilkes JM, Meissner M, Das S. Formin-2 drives polymerisation of actin filaments enabling segregation of apicoplasts and cytokinesis in Plasmodium falciparum. eLife 2019; 8:e49030. [PMID: 31322501 PMCID: PMC6688858 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to its role in erythrocyte invasion, Plasmodium falciparum actin is implicated in endocytosis, cytokinesis and inheritance of the chloroplast-like organelle called the apicoplast. Previously, the inability to visualise filamentous actin (F-actin) dynamics had restricted the characterisation of both F-actin and actin regulatory proteins, a limitation we recently overcame for Toxoplasma (Periz et al, 2017). Here, we have expressed and validated actin-binding chromobodies as F-actin-sensors in Plasmodium falciparum and characterised in-vivo actin dynamics. F-actin could be chemically modulated, and genetically disrupted upon conditionally deleting actin-1. In a comparative approach, we demonstrate that Formin-2, a predicted nucleator of F-actin, is responsible for apicoplast inheritance in both Plasmodium and Toxoplasma, and additionally mediates efficient cytokinesis in Plasmodium. Finally, time-averaged local intensity measurements of F-actin in Toxoplasma conditional mutants revealed molecular determinants of spatiotemporally regulated F-actin flow. Together, our data indicate that Formin-2 is the primary F-actin nucleator during apicomplexan intracellular growth, mediating multiple essential functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Felix Stortz
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & InflammationUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Mario Del Rosario
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & InflammationUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Mirko Singer
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental ParasitologyLudwig Maximilian UniversityMunichGermany
| | - Jonathan M Wilkes
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & InflammationUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Markus Meissner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & InflammationUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental ParasitologyLudwig Maximilian UniversityMunichGermany
| | - Sujaan Das
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & InflammationUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental ParasitologyLudwig Maximilian UniversityMunichGermany
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Motility and cytoskeletal organisation in the archigregarine Selenidium pygospionis (Apicomplexa): observations on native and experimentally affected parasites. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:2651-2667. [PMID: 31270680 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06381-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Representatives of Apicomplexa perform various kinds of movements that are linked to the different stages of their life cycle. Ancestral apicomplexan lineages, including gregarines, represent organisms suitable for research into the evolution and diversification of motility within the group. The vermiform trophozoites and gamonts of the archigregarine Selenidium pygospionis perform a very active type of bending motility. Experimental assays and subsequent light, electron, and confocal microscopic analyses demonstrated the fundamental role of the cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin in S. pygospionis motility and allowed us to compare the mechanism of its movement to the gliding machinery (the so-called glideosome concept) described in apicomplexan zoites. Actin-modifying drugs caused a reduction in the movement speed (cytochalasin D) or stopped the motility of archigregarines completely (jasplakinolide). Microtubule-disrupting drugs (oryzalin and colchicine) had an even more noticeable effect on archigregarine motility. The fading and disappearance of microtubules were documented in ultrathin sections, along with the formation of α-tubulin clusters visible after the immunofluorescent labelling of drug-treated archigregarines. The obtained data indicate that subpellicular microtubules most likely constitute the main motor structure involved in S. pygospionis bending motility, while actin has rather a supportive function.
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Gras S, Jimenez-Ruiz E, Klinger CM, Schneider K, Klingl A, Lemgruber L, Meissner M. An endocytic-secretory cycle participates in Toxoplasma gondii in motility. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000060. [PMID: 31233488 PMCID: PMC6611640 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites invade host cells in an active process involving their ability to move by gliding motility. While the acto-myosin system of the parasite plays a crucial role in the formation and release of attachment sites during this process, there are still open questions regarding the involvement of other mechanisms in parasite motility. In many eukaryotes, a secretory-endocytic cycle leads to the recycling of receptors (integrins), necessary to form attachment sites, regulation of surface area during motility, and generation of retrograde membrane flow. Here, we demonstrate that endocytosis operates during gliding motility in Toxoplasma gondii and appears to be crucial for the establishment of retrograde membrane flow, because inhibition of endocytosis blocks retrograde flow and motility. We demonstrate that extracellular parasites can efficiently incorporate exogenous material, such as labelled phospholipids, nanogold particles (NGPs), antibodies, and Concanavalin A (ConA). Using labelled phospholipids, we observed that the endocytic and secretory pathways of the parasite converge, and endocytosed lipids are subsequently secreted, demonstrating the operation of an endocytic-secretory cycle. Together our data consolidate previous findings, and we propose an additional model, working in parallel to the acto-myosin motor, that reconciles parasite motility with observations in other eukaryotes: an apicomplexan fountain-flow-model for parasite motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Gras
- Lehrstuhl für experimentelle Parasitologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Tierärztliche Fakultät, München, Germany
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Jimenez-Ruiz
- Lehrstuhl für experimentelle Parasitologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Tierärztliche Fakultät, München, Germany
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Christen M. Klinger
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Katja Schneider
- Pflanzliche Entwicklungsbiologie, Biozentrum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Andreas Klingl
- Pflanzliche Entwicklungsbiologie, Biozentrum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Leandro Lemgruber
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Meissner
- Lehrstuhl für experimentelle Parasitologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, LMU, Tierärztliche Fakultät, München, Germany
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Kohlhase DR, O’Rourke JA, Owen MDK, Graham MA. Using RNA-seq to characterize responses to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor herbicide resistance in waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:182. [PMID: 31060501 PMCID: PMC6501407 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1795-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D. Sauer) is a problem weed commonly found in the Midwestern United States that can cause crippling yield losses for both maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr). In 2011, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate-dioxygenase (HPPD, EC 1.13.11.27) inhibitor herbicide resistance was first reported in two waterhemp populations. Since the discovery of HPPD-herbicide resistance, studies have identified the mechanism of resistance and described the inheritance of the herbicide resistance. However, no studies have examined genome-wide gene expression changes in response to herbicide treatment in herbicide resistant and susceptible waterhemp. RESULTS We conducted RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of two waterhemp populations (HPPD-herbicide resistant and susceptible), from herbicide-treated and mock-treated leaf samples at three, six, twelve, and twenty-four hours after treatment (HAT). We performed a de novo transcriptome assembly using all sample sequences. Following assessments of our assembly, individual samples were mapped to the de novo transcriptome allowing us to identify transcripts specific to a genotype, herbicide treatment, or time point. Our results indicate that the response of HPPD-herbicide resistant and susceptible waterhemp genotypes to HPPD-inhibiting herbicide is rapid, established as soon as 3 hours after herbicide treatment. Further, there was little overlap in gene expression between resistant and susceptible genotypes, highlighting dynamic differences in response to herbicide treatment. In addition, we used stringent analytical methods to identify candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that distinguish the resistant and susceptible genotypes. CONCLUSIONS The waterhemp transcriptome, herbicide-responsive genes, and SNPs generated in this study provide valuable tools for future studies by numerous plant science communities. This collection of resources is essential to study and understand herbicide effects on gene expression in resistant and susceptible weeds. Understanding how herbicides impact gene expression could allow us to develop novel approaches for future herbicide development. Additionally, an increased understanding of the prolific traits intrinsic in weed success could lead to crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jamie A. O’Rourke
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)–Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, Ames, IA USA
| | | | - Michelle A. Graham
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)–Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, Ames, IA USA
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50
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Dupeyron M, Singh KS, Bass C, Hayward A. Evolution of Mutator transposable elements across eukaryotic diversity. Mob DNA 2019; 10:12. [PMID: 30988700 PMCID: PMC6446971 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-019-0153-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutator-like elements (MULEs) are a significant superfamily of DNA transposons on account of their: (i) great transpositional activity and propensity for insertion in or near gene sequences, (ii) their consequent high mutagenic capacity, and, (iii) their tendency to acquire host gene fragments. Consequently, MULEs are important genetic tools and represent a key study system for research into host-transposon interactions. Yet, while several studies have focused on the impacts of MULEs on crop and fungus genomes, their evolution remains poorly explored. Results We perform comprehensive bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses to address currently available MULE diversity and reconstruct evolution for the group. For this, we mine MULEs from online databases, and combine search results with available transposase sequences retrieved from previously published studies. Our analyses uncover two entirely new MULE clades that contain elements almost entirely restricted to arthropod hosts, considerably expanding the set of MULEs known from this group, suggesting that many additional MULEs may await discovery from further arthropod genomes. In several cases, close relationships occur between MULEs recovered from distantly related host organisms, suggesting that horizontal transfer events may have played an important role in the evolution of the group. However, it is apparent that MULEs from plants remain separate from MULEs identified from other host groups. MULE structure varies considerably across phylogeny, and TIR length is shown to vary greatly both within and between MULE groups. Our phylogeny suggests that MULE diversity is clustered in well-supported groups, typically according to host taxonomy. With reference to this, we make suggestions on how MULE diversity can be partitioned to provide a robust taxonomic framework. Conclusions Our study represents a considerable advance in the understanding of MULE diversity, host range and evolution, and provides a taxonomic framework for the classification of further MULE elements that await discovery. Our findings also raise a number of questions relating to MULE biology, suggesting that this group will provide a rich avenue for future study. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13100-019-0153-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Dupeyron
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
| | - Kumar S Singh
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
| | - Chris Bass
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
| | - Alexander Hayward
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
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