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Bottino-Rojas V, James AA. Mosquito Transposon-Mediated Transgenesis. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024; 2024:pdb.top107687. [PMID: 37816607 PMCID: PMC11025883 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top107687] [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] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Transposon-mediated transgenesis of mosquito vectors of disease pathogens followed the early success of transgenesis in the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster The P transposable element used in Drosophila does not function canonically in mosquitoes, and repeatable, routine transgenesis in mosquitoes was not accomplished until new transposable elements were discovered and validated. A number of distinct transposons were subsequently identified that mediate the introduction of exogenous DNA in a stable and heritable manner in mosquito species, including members of the genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex The most versatile element, piggyBac, is functional in all of these mosquito genera, as well as in many other insects in diverse orders, and has been used extensively outside the class. Transposon-mediated transgenesis of recessive and dominant marker genes and reporter systems has been used to define functional fragments of gene control sequences, introduce exogenous DNA encoding products beneficial to medical interests, and act as "enhancer traps" to identify endogenous genes with specific expression characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4500, USA
| | - Anthony A James
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4500, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-3900, USA
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2
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Wudarski J, Aliabadi S, Gulia-Nuss M. Arthropod promoters for genetic control of disease vectors. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:619-632. [PMID: 38824066 PMCID: PMC11223965 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) impose devastating effects on human health and a heavy financial burden. Malaria, Lyme disease, and dengue fever are just a few examples of VBDs that cause severe illnesses. The current strategies to control VBDs consist mainly of environmental modification and chemical use, and to a small extent, genetic approaches. The genetic approaches, including transgenesis/genome modification and gene-drive technologies, provide the basis for developing new tools for VBD prevention by suppressing vector populations or reducing their capacity to transmit pathogens. The regulatory elements such as promoters are required for a robust sex-, tissue-, and stage-specific transgene expression. As discussed in this review, information on the regulatory elements is available for mosquito vectors but is scant for other vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Wudarski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Simindokht Aliabadi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Monika Gulia-Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
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3
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Pomés A, Arruda LK. Cockroach allergy: Understanding complex immune responses to develop novel therapies. Mol Immunol 2023; 156:157-169. [PMID: 36930991 PMCID: PMC10134214 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.03.001] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Cockroach allergy is associated with the development of asthma. The identification of cockroach allergens, which began in the 1990 s, is an ongoing process that has led to the current listing of 20 official allergen groups in the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature database. The function and structure of some of these allergens has been determined and define their natural delivery into the environment and their allergenicity. Analysis of antigenic determinants by X-ray crystallography and rational design of site-directed mutagenesis led to the identification of IgE binding sites for the design of molecules with reduced IgE reactivity and T cell modulatory capacity. New developments in recent years include component analyses of B and T cell reactivity and a recent cockroach immunotherapy trial, CRITICAL, that will contribute to understand the immune response to cockroach and to define future directions for cockroach allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pomés
- Director of Basic Research, InBio, 700 Harris Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
| | - L Karla Arruda
- Professor of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
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4
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Bottino-Rojas V, James AA. Use of Insect Promoters in Genetic Engineering to Control Mosquito-Borne Diseases. Biomolecules 2022; 13:16. [PMID: 36671401 PMCID: PMC9855440 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito transgenesis and gene-drive technologies provide the basis for developing promising new tools for vector-borne disease prevention by either suppressing wild mosquito populations or reducing their capacity from transmitting pathogens. Many studies of the regulatory DNA and promoters of genes with robust sex-, tissue- and stage-specific expression profiles have supported the development of new tools and strategies that could bring mosquito-borne diseases under control. Although the list of regulatory elements available is significant, only a limited set of those can reliably drive spatial-temporal expression. Here, we review the advances in our ability to express beneficial and other genes in mosquitoes, and highlight the information needed for the development of new mosquito-control and anti-disease strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Anthony A. James
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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5
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Garrood WT, Cuber P, Willis K, Bernardini F, Page NM, Haghighat-Khah RE. Driving down malaria transmission with engineered gene drives. Front Genet 2022; 13:891218. [PMID: 36338968 PMCID: PMC9627344 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.891218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The last century has witnessed the introduction, establishment and expansion of mosquito-borne diseases into diverse new geographic ranges. Malaria is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Despite making great strides over the past few decades in reducing the burden of malaria, transmission is now on the rise again, in part owing to the emergence of mosquito resistance to insecticides, antimalarial drug resistance and, more recently, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the reduced implementation efficiency of various control programs. The utility of genetically engineered gene drive mosquitoes as tools to decrease the burden of malaria by controlling the disease-transmitting mosquitoes is being evaluated. To date, there has been remarkable progress in the development of CRISPR/Cas9-based homing endonuclease designs in malaria mosquitoes due to successful proof-of-principle and multigenerational experiments. In this review, we examine the lessons learnt from the development of current CRISPR/Cas9-based homing endonuclease gene drives, providing a framework for the development of gene drive systems for the targeted control of wild malaria-transmitting mosquito populations that overcome challenges such as with evolving drive-resistance. We also discuss the additional substantial works required to progress the development of gene drive systems from scientific discovery to further study and subsequent field application in endemic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T. Garrood
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Piotr Cuber
- Department of Molecular Biology, Core Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Willis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Bernardini
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole M. Page
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Bidoli C, Miccoli A, Buonocore F, Fausto AM, Gerdol M, Picchietti S, Scapigliati G. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Early Hemocyte Responses upon In Vivo Stimulation with LPS in the Stick Insect Bacillus rossius (Rossi, 1788). INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13070645. [PMID: 35886821 PMCID: PMC9316843 DOI: 10.3390/insects13070645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Non-model insect species such as B. rossius suffer from a profound gap of knowledge regarding the temporal progression of physiological responses following the challenge with bacterial pathogens or cell wall components thereof. The reason for this mostly lies in the lack of genomic/transcriptomic resources, which would provide an unparalleled in-depth capacity in the analysis of molecular, biochemical, and metabolic mechanisms. We present a high-quality transcriptome obtained from high-coverage sequencing of hemocytes harvested from adult stick insect specimens both pre- and post-LPS stimulation. Such a resource served as the basis for a stringent differential gene expression and functional enrichment analyses, the results of which were characterized and discussed in depth. Selected transcripts encoding for C-type lectins and ML-domain containing proteins were further investigated from a phylogenetic perspective. Overall, these findings shed light on the physiological responses driven by a short-term LPS stimulation in the European stick insect. Abstract Despite a growing number of non-model insect species is being investigated in recent years, a greater understanding of their physiology is prevented by the lack of genomic resources. This is the case of the common European stick insect Bacillus rossius (Rossi, 1788): in this species, some knowledge is available on hemocyte-related defenses, but little is known about the physiological changes occurring in response to natural or experimental challenges. Here, the transcriptional signatures of adult B. rossius hemocytes were investigated after a short-term (2 h) LPS stimulation in vivo: a total of 2191 differentially expressed genes, mostly involved in proteolysis and carbohydrate and lipid metabolic processes, were identified in the de novo assembled transcriptome and in-depth discussed. Overall, the significant modulation of immune signals—such as C-type lectins, ML domain-containing proteins, serpins, as well as Toll signaling-related molecules—provide novel information on the early progression of LPS-induced responses in B. rossius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Bidoli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (C.B.); (M.G.)
| | - Andrea Miccoli
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.B.); (A.M.F.); (S.P.); (G.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesco Buonocore
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.B.); (A.M.F.); (S.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Anna Maria Fausto
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.B.); (A.M.F.); (S.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (C.B.); (M.G.)
| | - Simona Picchietti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.B.); (A.M.F.); (S.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Scapigliati
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.B.); (A.M.F.); (S.P.); (G.S.)
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Schember I, Halfon MS. Identification of new Anopheles gambiae transcriptional enhancers using a cross-species prediction approach. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:410-419. [PMID: 33866636 PMCID: PMC8266755 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The success of transgenic mosquito vector control approaches relies on well-targeted gene expression, requiring the identification and characterization of a diverse set of mosquito promoters and transcriptional enhancers. However, few enhancers have been characterized in Anopheles gambiae to date. Here, we employ the SCRMshaw method we previously developed to predict enhancers in the A. gambiae genome, preferentially targeting vector-relevant tissues such as the salivary glands, midgut and nervous system. We demonstrate a high overall success rate, with at least 8 of 11 (73%) tested sequences validating as enhancers in an in vivo xenotransgenic assay. Four tested sequences drive expression in either the salivary gland or the midgut, making them directly useful for probing the biology of these infection-relevant tissues. The success of our study suggests that computational enhancer prediction should serve as an effective means for identifying A. gambiae enhancers with activity in tissues involved in malaria propagation and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Schember
- Department of Biochemistry, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203
| | - Marc S. Halfon
- Department of Biochemistry, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203
- NY State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Program in Cancer Genetics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263
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8
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Hoermann A, Tapanelli S, Capriotti P, Del Corsano G, Masters EK, Habtewold T, Christophides GK, Windbichler N. Converting endogenous genes of the malaria mosquito into simple non-autonomous gene drives for population replacement. eLife 2021; 10:58791. [PMID: 33845943 PMCID: PMC8043746 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene drives for mosquito population replacement are promising tools for malaria control. However, there is currently no clear pathway for safely testing such tools in endemic countries. The lack of well-characterized promoters for infection-relevant tissues and regulatory hurdles are further obstacles for their design and use. Here we explore how minimal genetic modifications of endogenous mosquito genes can convert them directly into non-autonomous gene drives without disrupting their expression. We co-opted the native regulatory sequences of three midgut-specific loci of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae to host a prototypical antimalarial molecule and guide-RNAs encoded within artificial introns that support efficient gene drive. We assess the propensity of these modifications to interfere with the development of Plasmodium falciparum and their effect on fitness. Because of their inherent simplicity and passive mode of drive such traits could form part of an acceptable testing pathway of gene drives for malaria eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Hoermann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Tapanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Capriotti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ellen Kg Masters
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tibebu Habtewold
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nikolai Windbichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Volohonsky G, Paul-Gilloteaux P, Štáfková J, Soichot J, Salamero J, Levashina EA. Kinetics of Plasmodium midgut invasion in Anopheles mosquitoes. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008739. [PMID: 32946522 PMCID: PMC7526910 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites traverse the mosquito midgut cells to establish infection at the basal side of the midgut. This dynamic process is a determinant of mosquito vector competence, yet the kinetics of the parasite migration is not well understood. Here we used transgenic mosquitoes of two Anopheles species and a Plasmodium berghei fluorescence reporter line to track parasite passage through the mosquito tissues at high spatial resolution. We provide new quantitative insight into malaria parasite invasion in African and Indian Anopheles species and propose that the mosquito complement-like system contributes to the species-specific dynamics of Plasmodium invasion. The traversal of the mosquito midgut cells is one of the critical stages in the life cycle of malaria parasites. Motile parasite forms, called ookinetes, traverse the midgut epithelium in a dynamic process which is not fully understood. Here, we harnessed transgenic reporters to track invasion of Plasmodium parasites in African and Indian mosquito species. We found important differences in parasite dynamics between the two Anopheles species and demonstrated a role of the mosquito complement-like system in regulation of parasite invasion of the midgut cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Volohonsky
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Perrine Paul-Gilloteaux
- SERPICO Inria Team/CNRS UMR 144, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,National Biology and Health Infrastructure "France Bioimaging", Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Cell and Tissue Imaging Facility, IBiSA, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Jitka Štáfková
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Julien Soichot
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean Salamero
- SERPICO Inria Team/CNRS UMR 144, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,National Biology and Health Infrastructure "France Bioimaging", Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Cell and Tissue Imaging Facility, IBiSA, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Elena A Levashina
- INSERM U963, CNRS UPR9022, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
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10
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Caraballo L, Valenta R, Puerta L, Pomés A, Zakzuk J, Fernandez-Caldas E, Acevedo N, Sanchez-Borges M, Ansotegui I, Zhang L, van Hage M, Abel-Fernández E, Karla Arruda L, Vrtala S, Curin M, Gronlund H, Karsonova A, Kilimajer J, Riabova K, Trifonova D, Karaulov A. The allergenic activity and clinical impact of individual IgE-antibody binding molecules from indoor allergen sources. World Allergy Organ J 2020; 13:100118. [PMID: 32373267 PMCID: PMC7195550 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A large number of allergens have been discovered but we know little about their potential to induce inflammation (allergenic activity) and symptoms. Nowadays, the clinical importance of allergens is determined by the frequency and intensity of their IgE antibody binding (allergenicity). This is a rather limited parameter considering the development of experimental allergology in the last 20 years and the criteria that support personalized medicine. Now it is known that some allergens, in addition to their IgE antibody binding properties, can induce inflammation through non IgE mediated pathways, which can increase their allergenic activity. There are several ways to evaluate the allergenic activity, among them the provocation tests, the demonstration of non-IgE mediated pathways of inflammation, case control studies of IgE-binding frequencies, and animal models of respiratory allergy. In this review we have explored the current status of basic and clinical research on allergenic activity of indoor allergens and confirm that, for most of them, this important property has not been investigated. However, during recent years important advances have been made in the field, and we conclude that for at least the following, allergenic activity has been demonstrated: Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 5 and Blo t 5 from HDMs; Per a 10 from P. americana; Asp f 1, Asp f 2, Asp f 3, Asp f 4 and Asp f 6 from A. fumigatus; Mala s 8 and Mala s 13 from M. sympodialis; Alt a 1 from A. alternata; Pen c 13 from P. chrysogenum; Fel d 1 from cats; Can f 1, Can f 2, Can f 3, Can f 4 and Can f 5 from dogs; Mus m 1 from mice and Bos d 2 from cows. Defining the allergenic activity of other indoor IgE antibody binding molecules is necessary for a precision-medicine-oriented management of allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Caraballo
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
- Corresponding author. Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
| | - Rudolf Valenta
- Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Laboratory of Immunopathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Leonardo Puerta
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Anna Pomés
- Indoor Biotechnologies, Inc. Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Josefina Zakzuk
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | | | - Nathalie Acevedo
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Mario Sanchez-Borges
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Centro Médico Docente La Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Ignacio Ansotegui
- Department of Allergy & Immunology Hospital Quironsalud Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Luo Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Marianne van Hage
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Immunology and Allergy, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Abel-Fernández
- Inmunotek, Madrid, Spain and University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, USA
| | - L. Karla Arruda
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Susanne Vrtala
- Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirela Curin
- Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans Gronlund
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonina Karsonova
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Laboratory of Immunopathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jonathan Kilimajer
- Inmunotek, Madrid, Spain and University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, USA
| | - Ksenja Riabova
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Laboratory of Immunopathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria Trifonova
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Laboratory of Immunopathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Karaulov
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Laboratory of Immunopathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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11
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Drug Repurposing of Bromodomain Inhibitors as Potential Novel Therapeutic Leads for Lymphatic Filariasis Guided by Multispecies Transcriptomics. mSystems 2019; 4:4/6/e00596-19. [PMID: 31796568 PMCID: PMC6890932 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00596-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The current treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis is mostly microfilaricidal. In an effort to identify new drug candidates for lymphatic filariasis, we conducted a three-way transcriptomics/systems biology study of one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis, Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its vector host Aedes aegypti at 16 distinct B. malayi life stages. B. malayi upregulates the expression of bromodomain-containing proteins in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria stages. In vitro, we find that the existing cancer therapeutic JQ1(+), which is a bromodomain and extraterminal protein inhibitor, has adulticidal activity in B. malayi. To better understand the transcriptomic interplay of organisms associated with lymphatic filariasis, we conducted multispecies transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) on the filarial nematode Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its laboratory vector Aedes aegypti across the entire B. malayi life cycle. In wBm, transcription of the noncoding 6S RNA suggests that it may be a regulator of bacterial cell growth, as its transcript levels correlate with bacterial replication rates. For A. aegypti, the transcriptional response reflects the stress that B. malayi infection exerts on the mosquito with indicators of increased energy demand. In B. malayi, expression modules associated with adult female samples consistently contained an overrepresentation of genes involved in chromatin remodeling, such as the bromodomain-containing proteins. All bromodomain-containing proteins encoded by B. malayi were observed to be upregulated in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria life stages, including 2 members of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein family. The BET inhibitor JQ1(+), originally developed as a cancer therapeutic, caused lethality of adult worms in vitro, suggesting that it may be a potential therapeutic that can be repurposed for treating lymphatic filariasis. IMPORTANCE The current treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis is mostly microfilaricidal. In an effort to identify new drug candidates for lymphatic filariasis, we conducted a three-way transcriptomics/systems biology study of one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis, Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its vector host Aedes aegypti at 16 distinct B. malayi life stages. B. malayi upregulates the expression of bromodomain-containing proteins in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria stages. In vitro, we find that the existing cancer therapeutic JQ1(+), which is a bromodomain and extraterminal protein inhibitor, has adulticidal activity in B. malayi.
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12
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Adolfi A, Pondeville E, Lynd A, Bourgouin C, Lycett GJ. Multi-tissue GAL4-mediated gene expression in all Anopheles gambiae life stages using an endogenous polyubiquitin promoter. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 96:1-9. [PMID: 29578046 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The ability to manipulate the Anopheles gambiae genome and alter gene expression effectively and reproducibly is a prerequisite for functional genetic analysis and for the development of novel control strategies in this important disease vector. However, in vivo transgenic analysis in mosquitoes is limited by the lack of promoters active ubiquitously. To address this, we used the GAL4/UAS system to investigate the promoter of the An. gambiae Polyubiquitin-c (PUBc) gene and demonstrated its ability to drive expression in mosquito cell culture before incorporation into An. gambiae transgenic driver lines. To generate such lines, piggyBac-mediated insertion was used to identify genomic regions able to sustain widespread expression and to create φC31 docking lines at these permissive sites. Patterns of expression induced by PUBc-GAL4 drivers carrying single intergenic insertions were assessed by crossing with a novel responder UAS-mCD8:mCherry line that was created by φC31-mediated integration. Amongst the drivers created at single, unique chromosomal integration loci, two were isolated that induced differential expression levels in a similar multiple-tissue spatial pattern throughout the mosquito life cycle. This work expands the tools available for An. gambiae functional analysis by providing a novel promoter for investigating phenotypes resulting from widespread multi-tissue expression, as well as identifying and tagging genomic sites that sustain broad transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Adolfi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Emilie Pondeville
- Institut Pasteur, Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors, CNRS Unit URA3012, Paris, France.
| | - Amy Lynd
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Liverpool, UK
| | - Catherine Bourgouin
- Institut Pasteur, Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors, CNRS Unit URA3012, Paris, France
| | - Gareth J Lycett
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Liverpool, UK.
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13
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Abstract
Vector control strategies based on population modification of Anopheline mosquitoes may have a significant role in the malaria eradication agenda. They could consolidate elimination gains by providing barriers to the reintroduction of parasites and competent vectors, and allow resources to be allocated to new control sites while maintaining treated areas free of malaria. Synthetic biological approaches are being used to generate transgenic mosquitoes for population modification. Proofs-of-principle exist for mosquito transgenesis, the construction of anti-parasite effector genes and gene-drive systems for rapidly introgressing beneficial genes into wild populations. Key challenges now are to develop field-ready strains of mosquitoes that incorporate features that maximize safety and efficacy, and specify pathways from discovery to development. We propose three pathways and a framework for target product profiles that maximize safety and efficacy while meeting the demands of the complexity of malaria transmission, and the regulatory and social diversity of potential end-users and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anthony A. James
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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14
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Eldering M, Bompard A, Miura K, Stone W, Morlais I, Cohuet A, van Gemert GJ, Brock PM, Rijpma SR, van de Vegte-Bolmer M, Graumans W, Siebelink-Stoter R, Da DF, Long CA, Morin MJ, Sauerwein RW, Churcher TS, Bousema T. Comparative assessment of An. gambiae and An. stephensi mosquitoes to determine transmission-reducing activity of antibodies against P. falciparum sexual stage antigens. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:489. [PMID: 29041962 PMCID: PMC5646129 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2414-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background With the increasing interest in vaccines to interrupt malaria transmission, there is a demand for harmonization of current methods to assess Plasmodium transmission in laboratory settings. Potential vaccine candidates are currently tested in the standard membrane feeding assay (SMFA) that commonly relies on Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Other mosquito species including Anopheles gambiae are the dominant malaria vectors for Plasmodium falciparum in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Using human serum and monoclonal pre-fertilization (anti-Pfs48/45) and post-fertilization (anti-Pfs25) antibodies known to effectively inhibit sporogony, we directly compared SMFA based estimates of transmission-reducing activity (TRA) for An. stephensi and An. gambiae mosquitoes. Results In the absence of transmission-reducing antibodies, average numbers of oocysts were similar between An. gambiae and An. stephensi. Antibody-mediated TRA was strongly correlated between both mosquito species, and absolute TRA estimates for pre-fertilisation monoclonal antibodies (mAb) showed no significant difference between the two species. TRA estimates for IgG of naturally exposed individuals and partially effective concentrations of anti-Pfs25 mAb were higher for An. stephensi than for An. gambiae. Conclusion Our findings support the use of An. stephensi in the SMFA for target prioritization. As a vaccine moves through product development, better estimates of TRA and transmission-blocking activity (TBA) may need to be obtained in epidemiologically relevant parasite-species combination. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-017-2414-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Eldering
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anaïs Bompard
- MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Will Stone
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Morlais
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR MIVEGEC UM-CNRS 5290-IRD 224, Montpellier, France
| | - Anna Cohuet
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR MIVEGEC UM-CNRS 5290-IRD 224, Montpellier, France
| | - Geert-Jan van Gemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick M Brock
- MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sanna R Rijpma
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wouter Graumans
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne Siebelink-Stoter
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dari F Da
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Carole A Long
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas S Churcher
- MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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15
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Pomés A, Mueller GA, Randall TA, Chapman MD, Arruda LK. New Insights into Cockroach Allergens. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2017; 17:25. [PMID: 28421512 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-017-0694-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review addresses the most recent developments on cockroach allergen research in relation to allergic diseases, especially asthma. RECENT FINDINGS The number of allergens relevant to cockroach allergy has recently expanded considerably up to 12 groups. New X-ray crystal structures of allergens from groups 1, 2, and 5 revealed interesting features with implications for allergen standardization, sensitization, diagnosis, and therapy. Cockroach allergy is strongly associated with asthma particularly among children and young adults living in inner-city environments, posing challenges for disease control. Environmental interventions targeted at reducing cockroach allergen exposure have provided conflicting results. Immunotherapy may be a way to modify the natural history of cockroach allergy and decrease symptoms and asthma severity among sensitized and exposed individuals. The new information on cockroach allergens is important for the assessment of allergen markers of exposure and disease, and for the design of immunotherapy trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pomés
- Indoor Biotechnologies, Inc., 700 Harris Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA.
| | - Geoffrey A Mueller
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, Intramural Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, MD-MR01, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Thomas A Randall
- Integrative Bioinformatics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, MD-MR01, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Martin D Chapman
- Indoor Biotechnologies, Inc., 700 Harris Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - L Karla Arruda
- Department of Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
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16
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Mwangi S, Attardo G, Suzuki Y, Aksoy S, Christoffels A. TSS seq based core promoter architecture in blood feeding Tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans morsitans) vector of Trypanosomiasis. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:722. [PMID: 26394619 PMCID: PMC4578606 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1921-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Transcription initiation regulation is mediated by sequence-specific interactions between DNA-binding proteins (transcription factors) and cis-elements, where BRE, TATA, INR, DPE and MTE motifs constitute canonical core motifs for basal transcription initiation of genes. Accurate identification of transcription start site (TSS) and their corresponding promoter regions is critical for delineation of these motifs. To this end, the genome scale analysis of core promoter architecture in insects has been confined to Drosophila. The recently sequenced Tsetse fly genome provides a unique opportunity to analyze transcription initiation regulation machinery in blood-feeding insects. Results A computational method for identification of TSS in newly sequenced Tsetse fly genome was evaluated, using TSS seq tags sampled from two developmental stages namely; larvae and pupae. There were 3134 tag clusters among which 45.4 % (1424) of the tag clusters mapped to first coding exons or their proximal predicted 5′UTR regions and 1.0 % (31) tag clusters mapping to transposons, within a threshold of 100 tags per cluster. These 1393 non transposon-derived core promoters had propensity for AT nucleotides. The −1/+1 and 1/+1 positions in D. melanogaster, and G. m. morsitans had propensity for CA and AA dinucleotides respectively. The 1393 tag clusters comprised narrow promoters (5 %), broad with peak promoters (23 %) and broad without peak promoters (72 %). Two-way motif co-occurrence analysis showed that the MTE-DPE pair is over-represented in broad core promoters. The frequently occurring triplet motifs in all promoter classes are the INR-MTE-DPE, TATA-MTE-DPE and TATA-INR-DPE. Promoters without the TATA motif had higher frequency of the MTE and INR motifs than those observed in Drosophila, where the DPE motif occur more frequently in promoters without TATA motif. Gene ontology terms associated with developmental processes were overrepresented in the narrow and broad with peak promoters. Conclusions The study has identified different motif combinations associated with broad promoters in a blood-feeding insect. In the case of TATA-less core promoters, G.m. morsitans uses the MTE to compensate for the lack of a TATA motif. The increasing availability of TSS seq data allows for revision of existing gene annotation datasets with the potential of identifying new transcriptional units. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1921-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mwangi
- South African MRC Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
| | - Geoffrey Attardo
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Alan Christoffels
- South African MRC Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
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Abstract
Transgenesis is an essential tool to investigate gene function and to introduce desired characters in laboratory organisms. Setting-up transgenesis in non-model organisms is challenging due to the diversity of biological life traits and due to knowledge gaps in genomic information. Some procedures will be broadly applicable to many organisms, and others have to be specifically developed for the target species. Transgenesis in disease vector mosquitoes has existed since the 2000s but has remained limited by the delicate biology of these insects. Here, we report a compilation of the transgenesis tools that we have designed for the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, including new docking strains, convenient transgenesis plasmids, a puromycin resistance selection marker, mosquitoes expressing cre recombinase, and various reporter lines defining the activity of cloned promoters. This toolbox contributed to rendering transgenesis routine in this species and is now enabling the development of increasingly refined genetic manipulations such as targeted mutagenesis. Some of the reagents and procedures reported here are easily transferable to other nonmodel species, including other disease vector or agricultural pest insects.
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18
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Zhao B, Kokoza VA, Saha TT, Wang S, Roy S, Raikhel AS. Regulation of the gut-specific carboxypeptidase: a study using the binary Gal4/UAS system in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 54:1-10. [PMID: 25152428 PMCID: PMC4426967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/03/2014] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Pathogen transmission by mosquitoes is tightly linked to blood feeding which, in turn, is required for egg development. Studies of these processes would greatly benefit from genetic methods, such as the binary Gal4/UAS system. The latter has been well established for model organisms, but its availability is limited for mosquitoes. The objective of this study was to develop the blood-meal-activated, gut-specific Gal4/UAS system for the yellow-fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and utilize it to investigate the regulation of gut-specific gene expression. A 1.1-kb, 5(') upstream region of the carboxypeptidase A (CP) gene was used to genetically engineer the CP-Gal4 driver mosquito line. The CP-Gal4 specifically activated the Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) reporter only after blood feeding in the gut of the CP-Gal4 > UAS-EGFP female Ae. aegypti. We used this system to study the regulation of CP gene expression. In vitro treatments with either amino acids (AAs) or insulin stimulated expression of the CP-Gal4 > UAS-EGFP transgene; no effect was observed with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) treatments. The transgene activation by AAs and insulin was blocked by rapamycin, the inhibitor of the Target-of-Rapamycin (TOR) kinase. RNA interference (RNAi) silence of the insulin receptor (IR) reduced the expression of the CP-Gal4 > UAS-EGFP transgene. Thus, in vitro and in vivo experiments have revealed that insulin and TOR pathways control expression of the digestive enzyme CP. In contrast, 20E, the major regulator of post-blood-meal vitellogenic events in female mosquitoes, has no role in regulating the expression of this gene. This novel CP-Gal4/UAS system permits functional testing of midgut-specific genes that are involved in blood digestion and interaction with pathogens in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhao
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Graduate Program in Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Vladimir A Kokoza
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; The Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Tusar T Saha
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; The Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Stephanie Wang
- Honors Undergraduate Program, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Sourav Roy
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; The Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Alexander S Raikhel
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; The Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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19
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Kumar A, Sharma A, Sharma R, Gakhar S. Identification, characterization and analysis of expression of gene encoding carboxypeptidase A in Anopheles culicifacies A (Diptera: culicidae). Acta Trop 2014; 139:123-30. [PMID: 24910441 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Carboxypeptidases are the digestive enzymes which cleave single amino acid residue from c-terminus of the protein. Digestive carboxypeptidase A gene regulatory elements in insects have shown their efficiency to drive midgut specific expression in transgenic mosquitoes. However no endogenous promoter has been reported for Indian malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies which is major vector in Indian subcontinent. Here we report cloning of carboxypeptidase A gene in the An. culicifacies A including its 5' upstream regions and named AcCP. In the upstream region of the gene an arthropod initiator sequence and two repeat sequences of the particular importance TTATC and GTTTT were also identified. The 1290 base pairs open reading frame encodes a protein of 48.5kDa. The coding region of the gene shares 82% and 72% similarity at nucleotide level with Anopheles gambiae and Ae. aegypti carboxypeptidase A gene, respectively. The peak expression of the gene was found to be at 3h after blood feeding and this is limited to midgut only. Based on the protein sequence, 3D structure of the AcCP was predicted and the active centre of the enzyme was predicted to consist of GLN 183, GLU 186, HIS 308 and Ser 309 amino acid residues. Comparison of the protein sequence among different genera revealed the conservation of zinc binding residues. Phylogenetically, AcCP was found most closely related to An. gambiae.
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20
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Randall TA, Perera L, London RE, Mueller GA. Genomic, RNAseq, and molecular modeling evidence suggests that the major allergen domain in insects evolved from a homodimeric origin. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 5:2344-58. [PMID: 24253356 PMCID: PMC3879970 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The major allergen domain (MA) is widely distributed in insects. The crystal structure of a single Bla g 1 MA revealed a novel protein fold in which the fundamental structure was a duplex of two subsequences (monomers), which had diverged over time. This suggested that the evolutionary origin of the MA structure may have been a homodimer of this smaller subsequence. Using publicly available genomic data, the distribution of the basic unit of this class of proteins was determined to better understand its evolutionary history. The duplication and divergence is examined at three distinct levels of resolution: 1) within the orders Diptera and Hymenoptera, 2) within one genus Drosophila, and 3) within one species Aedes aegypti. Within the family Culicidae, we have found two separate occurrences of monomers as independent genes. The organization of the gene family in A. aegypti shows a common evolutionary origin for its monomer and several closely related MAs. Molecular modeling of the A. aegypti monomer with the unique Bla g 1 fold confirms the distant evolutionary relationship and supports the feasibility of homodimer formation from a single monomer. RNAseq data for A. aegypti confirms that the monomer is expressed in the mosquito similar to other A. aegypti MAs after a blood meal. Together, these data support the contention that the detected monomer shares similar functional characteristics to related MAs in other insects. An extensive search for this domain outside of Insecta confirms that the MAs are restricted to insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Randall
- Integrative Bioinformatics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
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21
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Costa-da-Silva AL, Marinotti O, Ribeiro JMC, Silva MCP, Lopes AR, Barros MS, Sá-Nunes A, Kojin BB, Carvalho E, Suesdek L, Silva-Neto MAC, James AA, Capurro ML. Transcriptome sequencing and developmental regulation of gene expression in Anopheles aquasalis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3005. [PMID: 25033462 PMCID: PMC4102416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anopheles aquasalis is a major malaria vector in coastal areas of South and Central America where it breeds preferentially in brackish water. This species is very susceptible to Plasmodium vivax and it has been already incriminated as responsible vector in malaria outbreaks. There has been no high-throughput investigation into the sequencing of An. aquasalis genes, transcripts and proteins despite its epidemiological relevance. Here we describe the sequencing, assembly and annotation of the An. aquasalis transcriptome. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A total of 419 thousand cDNA sequence reads, encompassing 164 million nucleotides, were assembled in 7544 contigs of ≥ 2 sequences, and 1999 singletons. The majority of the An. aquasalis transcripts encode proteins with their closest counterparts in another neotropical malaria vector, An. darlingi. Several analyses in different protein databases were used to annotate and predict the putative functions of the deduced An. aquasalis proteins. Larval and adult-specific transcripts were represented by 121 and 424 contig sequences, respectively. Fifty-one transcripts were only detected in blood-fed females. The data also reveal a list of transcripts up- or down-regulated in adult females after a blood meal. Transcripts associated with immunity, signaling networks and blood feeding and digestion are discussed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This study represents the first large-scale effort to sequence the transcriptome of An. aquasalis. It provides valuable information that will facilitate studies on the biology of this species and may lead to novel strategies to reduce malaria transmission on the South American continent. The An. aquasalis transcriptome is accessible at http://exon.niaid.nih.gov/transcriptome/An_aquasalis/Anaquexcel.xlsx.
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Affiliation(s)
- André L. Costa-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Geneticamente Modificados, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Osvaldo Marinotti
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Maria C. P. Silva
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Geneticamente Modificados, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriana R. Lopes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michele S. Barros
- Laboratório de Imunologia Experimental, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anderson Sá-Nunes
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunologia Experimental, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bianca B. Kojin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Eneas Carvalho
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lincoln Suesdek
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Geneticamente Modificados, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mário Alberto C. Silva-Neto
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anthony A. James
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Margareth L. Capurro
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Geneticamente Modificados, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, INCT-EM, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Pomés A, Arruda LK. Investigating cockroach allergens: aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment of cockroach allergic patients. Methods 2013; 66:75-85. [PMID: 23916425 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2013.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cockroach allergy is an important health problem associated with the development of asthma, as a consequence of chronic exposure to low levels of allergens in susceptible individuals. In the last 20 years, progress in understanding the disease has been possible, thanks to the identification and molecular cloning of cockroach allergens and their expression as recombinant proteins. Assays for assessment of environmental allergen exposure have been developed and used to measure Bla g 1 and Bla g 2, as markers of cockroach exposure. IgE antibodies to cockroach extracts and to specific purified allergens have been measured to assess sensitization and analyze association with exposure and disease. With the development of the field of structural biology and the expression of recombinant cockroach allergens, insights into allergen structure, function, epitope mapping and allergen-antibody interactions have provided further understanding of mechanisms of cockroach allergic disease at the molecular level. This information will contribute to develop new approaches to allergen avoidance and to improve diagnosis and therapy of cockroach allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pomés
- Indoor Biotechnologies, Inc., Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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23
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Mueller GA, Pedersen LC, Lih FB, Glesner J, Moon AF, Chapman MD, Tomer KB, London RE, Pomés A. The novel structure of the cockroach allergen Bla g 1 has implications for allergenicity and exposure assessment. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 132:1420-6. [PMID: 23915714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Revised: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensitization to cockroach allergens is a major risk factor for asthma. The cockroach allergen Bla g 1 has multiple repeats of approximately 100 amino acids, but the fold of the protein and its biological function are unknown. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the structure of Bla g 1, investigate the implications for allergic disease, and standardize cockroach exposure assays. METHODS nBla g 1 and recombinant constructs were compared by using ELISA with specific murine IgG and human IgE. The structure of Bla g 1 was determined by x-ray crystallography. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to examine the ligand-binding properties of the allergen. RESULTS The structure of an rBla g 1 construct with comparable IgE and IgG reactivity to the natural allergen was solved by x-ray crystallography. The Bla g 1 repeat forms a novel fold with 6 helices. Two repeats encapsulate a large and nearly spherical hydrophobic cavity, defining the basic structural unit. Lipids in the cavity varied depending on the allergen origin. Palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids were associated with nBla g 1 from cockroach frass. One unit of Bla g 1 was equivalent to 104 ng of allergen. CONCLUSIONS Bla g 1 has a novel fold with a capacity to bind various lipids, which suggests a digestive function associated with nonspecific transport of lipid molecules in cockroaches. Defining the basic structural unit of Bla g 1 facilitates the standardization of assays in absolute units for the assessment of environmental allergen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey A Mueller
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC.
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Jiang L, Cheng T, Dang Y, Peng Z, Zhao P, Liu S, Jin S, Lin P, Sun Q, Xia Q. Identification of a midgut-specific promoter in the silkworm Bombyx mori. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 433:542-6. [PMID: 23524268 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The midgut is an important organ for digestion and absorption of nutrients and immune defense in the silkworm Bombyx mori. In an attempt to create a tool for midgut research, we cloned the 1080 bp P2 promoter sequence (P2P) of a highly expressed midgut-specific gene in the silkworm. The transgenic line (P2) was generated via embryo microinjection, in which the expression of EGFP was driven by P2P. There was strong green fluorescence only in the midgut of P2. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that P2P was a midgut-specific promoter with activity throughout the larval stage. A transgenic truncation experiment suggested that regions -305 to -214 and +107 to +181 were very important for P2P activity. The results of this study revealed that we have identified a midgut-specific promoter with a high level of activity in the silkworm that will aid future research and application of silkworm genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, PR China
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Park SW, Goo TW, Kim SR, Choi GH. Hemocyte-specific Promoter for the Development of Transgenic Silkworm, Bombyx mori. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.7852/ijie.2012.25.1.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Isaacs AT, Jasinskiene N, Tretiakov M, Thiery I, Zettor A, Bourgouin C, James AA. Transgenic Anopheles stephensi coexpressing single-chain antibodies resist Plasmodium falciparum development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:E1922-30. [PMID: 22689959 PMCID: PMC3396534 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1207738109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes expressing m1C3, m4B7, or m2A10 single-chain antibodies (scFvs) have significantly lower levels of infection compared to controls when challenged with Plasmodium falciparum, a human malaria pathogen. These scFvs are derived from antibodies specific to a parasite chitinase, the 25 kDa protein and the circumsporozoite protein, respectively. Transgenes comprising m2A10 in combination with either m1C3 or m4B7 were inserted into previously-characterized mosquito chromosomal "docking" sites using site-specific recombination. Transgene expression was evaluated at four different genomic locations and a docking site that permitted tissue- and sex-specific expression was researched further. Fitness studies of docking site and dual scFv transgene strains detected only one significant fitness cost: adult docking-site males displayed a late-onset reduction in survival. The m4B7/m2A10 mosquitoes challenged with P. falciparum had few or no sporozoites, the parasite stage infective to humans, in three of four experiments. No sporozoites were detected in m1C3/m2A10 mosquitoes in challenge experiments when both genes were induced at developmentally relevant times. These studies support the conclusion that expression of a single copy of a dual scFv transgene can completely inhibit parasite development without imposing a fitness cost on the mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison T. Isaacs
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4500
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900
| | - Nijole Jasinskiene
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900
| | - Mikhail Tretiakov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900
| | - Isabelle Thiery
- Institut Pasteur, Center for Production and Infection of Anopheles, 75724 Paris, cedex 15, France; and
| | - Agnès Zettor
- Institut Pasteur, Center for Production and Infection of Anopheles, 75724 Paris, cedex 15, France; and
| | - Catherine Bourgouin
- Institut Pasteur, Center for Production and Infection of Anopheles, 75724 Paris, cedex 15, France; and
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Génétique et Génomique des Insectes Vecteurs-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique URA 3012, 75724 Paris, cedex 15, France
| | - Anthony A. James
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4500
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900
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Lynd A, Lycett GJ. Development of the bi-partite Gal4-UAS system in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31552. [PMID: 22348104 PMCID: PMC3278442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional genetic analysis in Anopheles gambiae would be greatly improved by the development of a binary expression system, which would allow the more rapid and flexible characterisation of genes influencing disease transmission, including those involved in insecticide resistance, parasite interaction, host and mate seeking behaviour. The Gal4-UAS system, widely used in Drosophila melanogaster functional genetics, has been significantly modified to achieve robust application in several different species. Towards this end, previous work generated a series of modified Gal4 constructs that were up to 20 fold more active than the native gene in An. gambiae cells. To examine the Gal4-UAS system in vivo, transgenic An. gambiae driver lines carrying a modified Gal4 gene under the control of the carboxypeptidase promoter, and responder lines carrying UAS regulated luciferase and eYFP reporter genes have been created. Crossing of the Gal4 and UAS lines resulted in progeny that expressed both reporters in the expected midgut specific pattern. Although there was minor variation in reporter gene activity between the different crosses examined, the tissue specific expression pattern was consistent regardless of the genomic location of the transgene cassettes. The results show that the modified Gal4-UAS system can be used to successfully activate expression of transgenes in a robust and tissue specific manner in Anopheles gambiae. The midgut driver and dual reporter responder constructs are the first to be developed and tested successfully in transgenic An. gambiae and provide the basis for further advancement of the system in this and other insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Lynd
- Vector Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth John Lycett
- Vector Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Lycett GJ, Amenya D, Lynd A. The Anopheles gambiae alpha-tubulin-1b promoter directs neuronal, testes and developing imaginal tissue specific expression and is a sensitive enhancer detector. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 21:79-88. [PMID: 22011081 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2011.01112.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A knowledge gap in mosquito functional genetic analysis is the dearth of characterized regulatory regions that can target tissue specific transgene expression. To broaden the tools available, a promoter region of the Anopheles gambiaeα-tubulin1b gene has been assayed following fusion to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene and stable transformation of An. gambiae. In eight transgenic lines, the Angtub α1b regulatory region directed a core profile of tissue specific expression in the head, chordotonal organs, ventral nerve cord and testes. This profile overlaps those seen for α2-tubulin expression in Drosophila melanogaster and Bombyx mori. In addition, widespread position dependant expression was observed in other specific tissues that were unique to each line. For example, in different lines, expression was observed in larval and adult muscles, fatbody, cuticle and midgut secretory cells. The majority of genomic transgene insertions were mapped to within 10 kb of a gene, suggesting that the Angtub α1b basal promoter is particularly sensitive to enhancers and may be suitable to form the basis of a sensitive enhancer trapping construct, in combination with a binary expression system such as Gal4-UAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth J Lycett
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK.
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Abstract
The ability to introduce genetic constructs of choice into the genome of Anopheles mosquitoes provides a valuable tool to study the molecular interactions between the Plasmodium parasite and its insect host. In the long term, this technology could potentially offer new ways to control vector-borne diseases through the suppression of target mosquito populations or through the introgression of traits that preclude pathogen transmission. Here, we describe in detail protocols for the generation of transgenic Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes based on germ-line transformation using either modified transposable elements or the site-specific PhiC31 recombinase.
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Low- and high-tech approaches to control Plasmodium parasite transmission by anopheles mosquitoes. J Trop Med 2011; 2011:891342. [PMID: 21876705 PMCID: PMC3157759 DOI: 10.1155/2011/891342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Current efforts have proven inadequate to stop the transmission of Plasmodium parasites, and hence the spread of malaria, by Anopheles mosquitoes. Therefore, a novel arsenal of strategies for inhibiting Plasmodium infection of mosquitoes is urgently needed. In this paper, we summarize research on two approaches to malaria control, a low-tech strategy based on parasite inhibition by the mosquito's natural microflora, and a high-tech strategy using genetic modification of mosquitoes that renders them resistant to infection and discuss advantages and disadvantages for both approaches.
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Kokoza VA, Raikhel AS. Targeted gene expression in the transgenic Aedes aegypti using the binary Gal4-UAS system. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 41:637-44. [PMID: 21536128 PMCID: PMC3124619 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Revised: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we report the establishment of the binary Gal4/UAS system for the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. We utilized the 1.8-kb 5' upstream region of the vitellogenin gene (Vg) to genetically engineer mosquito lines with the Vg-Gal4 activator and established UAS-EGFP responder transgenic mosquito lines to evaluate the binary Gal4/UAS system. The results show that the Vg-Gal4 driver leads to a high level of tissue-, stage- and sex-specific expression of the EGFP reporter in the fat body of Vg-Gal4/UAS-EGFP hybrids after blood-meal activation. In addition, the applicability of this system to study hormonal regulation of gene expression was demonstrated in in vitro organ culture experiments in which the EGFP reporter was highly activated in isolated fat bodies of previtellogenic Vg-Gal4/UAS-EGFP females incubated in the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Hence, this study has opened the door for further refinement of genetic tools in mosquitoes.
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