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Graumans W, van der Starre A, Stoter R, van Gemert GJ, Andolina C, Ramjith J, Kooij T, Bousema T, Proellochs N. AlbuMAX supplemented media induces the formation of transmission-competent P. falciparum gametocytes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 259:111634. [PMID: 38823647 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111634] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Asexual blood stage culture of Plasmodium falciparum is routinely performed but reproducibly inducing commitment to and maturation of viable gametocytes remains difficult. Culture media can be supplemented with human serum substitutes to induce commitment but these generally only allow for long-term culture of asexual parasites and not transmission-competent gametocytes due to their different lipid composition. Recent insights demonstrated the important roles lipids play in sexual commitment; elaborating on this we exposed ring stage parasites (20-24 hours hpi) for one day to AlbuMAX supplemented media to trigger induction to gametocytogenesis. We observed a significant increase in gametocytes after AlbuMAX induction compared to serum. We also tested the transmission potential of AlbuMAX inducted gametocytes and found a significant higher oocyst intensity compared to serum. We conclude that AlbuMAX supplemented media induces commitment, allows a more stable and predictable production of transmittable gametocytes than serum alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Graumans
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alex van der Starre
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Rianne Stoter
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Geert-Jan van Gemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Chiara Andolina
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jordache Ramjith
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Taco Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nicholas Proellochs
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Ndawula C, Emudong P, Muwereza N, Currà C. Insights into Theileria transmission-blocking vaccines for East Coast fever control: A disease with an "outdated vaccination approach". Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102386. [PMID: 39128161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102386] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Instead of using the Infection and Treatment Method (ITM)-based vaccine, is it possible to control East Coast Fever (ECF) through blocking Theileria parva transmission in ticks and cattle? This review pursues this question. It's over 100 years since Arnold Theiler (1912) first illustrated the natural ITM as a vaccination approach against ECF-cattle disease. The approach entails infecting cattle with live Theileria sporozoites and co-treatment with long-acting tetracycline. Building on the ITM principle, the "Muguga"-cocktail ECF vaccine was developed in the 1970s and it remains the only commercially available-one. Although the vaccine induces cattle-protection, the vaccination approach still raises several drawbacks. Of those, the most outstanding is the vaccine-safety. This is implied because after ITM vaccination, cattle revert to T. parva pathogen reservoirs, therefore, during blood meal-acquisition, the ticks co-ingest T. parva pathogens. Ultimately, the pathogens are further transmitted transstadial; from larvae to nymph and nymph-adults and later re-transmitted to cattle during blood-meal acquisition. Consequently, the vaccine-constituting T. parva strains are introduced and (re) spread in non-endemic/ endemic areas. Precisely, rather than eradicating the disease, the ITM vaccination-approach promotes ECF endemicity. With advent of novel vaccination approaches toward vector and vector-borne disease control, ECF-control based on ITM of vaccination is considered outdated. The review highlights the need for embracing a holistic integrative vaccination approach entailing blocking Theileria pathogen-development and transmission both in the ticks and cattle, and/or the tick-population.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ndawula
- National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 295, Entebbe, Uganda; National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P.O Box 5704, Wakiso, Uganda.
| | - P Emudong
- National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 295, Entebbe, Uganda; National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P.O Box 5704, Wakiso, Uganda
| | - N Muwereza
- National Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 295, Entebbe, Uganda; National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P.O Box 5704, Wakiso, Uganda
| | - C Currà
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, ISTITUTO SUPERIORE di SANITÀ, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Lee BST, Sinha A, Dedon P, Preiser P. Charting new territory: The Plasmodium falciparum tRNA modification landscape. Biomed J 2024:100745. [PMID: 38734409 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100745] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribonucleoside modifications comprising the epitranscriptome are present in all organisms and all forms of RNA, including mRNA, rRNA and tRNA, the three major RNA components of the translational machinery. Of these, tRNA is the most heavily modified and the tRNA epitranscriptome has the greatest diversity of modifications. In addition to their roles in tRNA biogenesis, quality control, structure, cleavage, and codon recognition, tRNA modifications have been shown to regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including humans. However, studies investigating the impact of tRNA modifications on gene expression in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are currently scarce. Current evidence shows that the parasite has a limited capacity for transcriptional control, which points to a heavier reliance on strategies for posttranscriptional regulation such as tRNA epitranscriptome reprogramming. This review addresses the known functions of tRNA modifications in the biology of P. falciparum while highlighting the potential therapeutic opportunities and the value of using P. falciparum as a model organism for addressing several open questions related to the tRNA epitranscriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Sian Teck Lee
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore
| | - Ameya Sinha
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore;; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Peter Dedon
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore;; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA.
| | - Peter Preiser
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore;; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore;.
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Omorou R, Delabie B, Lavoignat A, Chaker V, Bonnot G, Traore K, Bienvenu AL, Picot S. Nanoparticle tracking analysis of natural hemozoin from Plasmodium parasites. Acta Trop 2024; 250:107105. [PMID: 38135133 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemozoin is a byproduct of hemoglobin digestion crucial for parasite survival. It forms crystals that can be of interest as drug targets or biomarkers of malaria infection. However, hemozoin has long been considered as an amorphous crystal of simple morphology. Studying the consequences of biomineralization of this crystal during the parasite growth may provide more comprehensive evidence of its role during malaria. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the interest of nanoparticles tracker analysis for measuring the concentration and size of hemozoin particles produced from different parasite sources and conditions. METHODS Hemozoin was extracted from several clones of Plasmodium falciparum both asexual and sexual parasites. Hemozoin was also extracted from blood samples of malaria patients and from saliva of asymptomatic malaria carriers. Nanoparticles tracking analysis (NTA) was performed to assess the size and concentration of hemozoin. RESULTS NTA data showed variation in hemozoin concentration, size, and crystal clusters between parasite clones, species, and stages. Among parasite clones, hemozoin concentration ranged from 131 to 2663 particles/infected red blood cell (iRBC) and size ranged from 149.6 ± 6.3 nm to 234.8 ± 40.1 nm. The mean size was lower for Plasmodium vivax (176 ± 79.2 nm) than for Plasmodium falciparum (254.8 ± 74.0 nm). Sexual NF54 parasites showed a 7.5-fold higher concentration of hemozoin particles (28.7 particles/iRBC) compared to asexual parasites (3.8 particles/iRBC). In addition, the mean hemozoin size also increased by approximately 60 % for sexual parasites. Compared to in vitro cultures of parasites, blood samples showed low hemozoin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the potential of NTA as a useful method for analyzing hemozoin, demonstrating its ability to provide detailed information on hemozoin characterization. However, further research is needed to adapt the NTA for hemozoin analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roukayatou Omorou
- Malaria Research Unit, UMR 5246 CNRS-INSA-CPE, University Lyon1, University Lyon, Villeurbanne 69100, France.
| | - Blanche Delabie
- Malaria Research Unit, UMR 5246 CNRS-INSA-CPE, University Lyon1, University Lyon, Villeurbanne 69100, France
| | - Adeline Lavoignat
- Malaria Research Unit, UMR 5246 CNRS-INSA-CPE, University Lyon1, University Lyon, Villeurbanne 69100, France
| | - Victorien Chaker
- Malaria Research Unit, UMR 5246 CNRS-INSA-CPE, University Lyon1, University Lyon, Villeurbanne 69100, France
| | - Guillaume Bonnot
- Malaria Research Unit, UMR 5246 CNRS-INSA-CPE, University Lyon1, University Lyon, Villeurbanne 69100, France
| | - Karim Traore
- Malaria Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali
| | - Anne-Lise Bienvenu
- Malaria Research Unit, UMR 5246 CNRS-INSA-CPE, University Lyon1, University Lyon, Villeurbanne 69100, France; Service Pharmacie, Groupement Hospitalier Nord, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 69004, France
| | - Stephane Picot
- Malaria Research Unit, UMR 5246 CNRS-INSA-CPE, University Lyon1, University Lyon, Villeurbanne 69100, France; Institute of Parasitology and Medical Mycology, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 69004, France
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do Nascimento Martinez L, Silva DC, Brilhante-da-Silva N, da Silva Rodrigues FL, de Lima AA, Tada MS, Costa JDN. Monitoring the density of Plasmodium spp. gametocytes in isolates from patient samples in the region of Porto Velho, Rondônia. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:405. [PMID: 37987025 PMCID: PMC10657340 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03822-6] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Gametocytes are the forms of the malaria parasite that are essential for the continuation of the transmission cycle to the vector Anopheles. This study aimed to evaluate the parasite density of Plasmodium spp gametocytes in samples from patients in the region of Porto Velho, Rondônia. Slides containing patient samples were selected from users who sought out care at the Center for Research in Tropical Medicine (CEPEM) during the period from January to December 2016. Samples of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum were selected for analysis of their respective gametocytes. In parallel, monitoring was performed in cultures of NF54 strain P. falciparum gametocytes. Of 248 thick smear slides (EG) evaluated in double blind, 142 (57.2%) were detected with P. vivax, of this total 47 (18.9%) had gametocytes, 1 (0.4%) with LVC negative diagnosis for gametocytes and 1 (0.4%) Pv + Pf (mixed malaria). Regarding P. falciparum, the total number of samples analyzed was 106 (42.7%), of which 20 (8.0%) had gametocytes detected, 6 (2.4%) LVC negative for gametocyte forms, and 3 (1.2%) Pv + Pf (mixed malaria), Plasmodium malariae species was not detected among the samples. The results showed that P. vivax gametocytes were present in the first days of symptoms, with a higher prevalence in patients with two crosses, a fact that was also observed in patients with P. falciparum regarding the prevalence of gametocytes. Faced with this problem, it is necessary to monitor the fluctuation of gametocytes, since these forms are responsible for continuing the malaria cycle within the mosquito vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro do Nascimento Martinez
- Plataforma de Bioensaios em Malária e Leishmaniose (PBML)-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental (Pgbioexp), Centro Universitário São Lucas-PVH/ Afya, Porto Velho, RO Brazil
| | | | - Nairo Brilhante-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos (LEA)-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular E Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mauro Shugiro Tada
- Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical–CEPEM, Instituto de Pesquisa em Patologias Tropicais, Porto Velho, Rondônia Brazil
| | - Joana D.‘Arc Neves Costa
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia de Malária, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical-CEPEM, Instituto de Pesquisa em Patologias Tropicais, Porto Velho, RO Brasil
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Parres-Mercader M, Pance A, Gómez-Díaz E. Novel systems to study vector-pathogen interactions in malaria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1146030. [PMID: 37305421 PMCID: PMC10253182 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1146030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Some parasitic diseases, such as malaria, require two hosts to complete their lifecycle: a human and an insect vector. Although most malaria research has focused on parasite development in the human host, the life cycle within the vector is critical for the propagation of the disease. The mosquito stage of the Plasmodium lifecycle represents a major demographic bottleneck, crucial for transmission blocking strategies. Furthermore, it is in the vector, where sexual recombination occurs generating "de novo" genetic diversity, which can favor the spread of drug resistance and hinder effective vaccine development. However, understanding of vector-parasite interactions is hampered by the lack of experimental systems that mimic the natural environment while allowing to control and standardize the complexity of the interactions. The breakthrough in stem cell technologies has provided new insights into human-pathogen interactions, but these advances have not been translated into insect models. Here, we review in vivo and in vitro systems that have been used so far to study malaria in the mosquito. We also highlight the relevance of single-cell technologies to progress understanding of these interactions with higher resolution and depth. Finally, we emphasize the necessity to develop robust and accessible ex vivo systems (tissues and organs) to enable investigation of the molecular mechanisms of parasite-vector interactions providing new targets for malaria control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Parres-Mercader
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN, CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Alena Pance
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Gómez-Díaz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN, CSIC), Granada, Spain
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