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Sattler JM, Keiber L, Abdelrahim A, Zheng X, Jäcklin M, Zechel L, Moreau CA, Steinbrück S, Fischer M, Janse CJ, Hoffmann A, Hentzschel F, Frischknecht F. Experimental vaccination by single dose sporozoite injection of blood-stage attenuated malaria parasites. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:2060-2079. [PMID: 39103697 PMCID: PMC11392930 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00101-6] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria vaccination approaches using live Plasmodium parasites are currently explored, with either attenuated mosquito-derived sporozoites or attenuated blood-stage parasites. Both approaches would profit from the availability of attenuated and avirulent parasites with a reduced blood-stage multiplication rate. Here we screened gene-deletion mutants of the rodent parasite P. berghei and the human parasite P. falciparum for slow growth. Furthermore, we tested the P. berghei mutants for avirulence and resolving blood-stage infections, while preserving sporozoite formation and liver infection. Targeting 51 genes yielded 18 P. berghei gene-deletion mutants with several mutants causing mild infections. Infections with the two most attenuated mutants either by blood stages or by sporozoites were cleared by the immune response. Immunization of mice led to protection from disease after challenge with wild-type sporozoites. Two of six generated P. falciparum gene-deletion mutants showed a slow growth rate. Slow-growing, avirulent P. falciparum mutants will constitute valuable tools to inform on the induction of immune responses and will aid in developing new as well as safeguarding existing attenuated parasite vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Sattler
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Keiber
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aiman Abdelrahim
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xinyu Zheng
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Jäcklin
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luisa Zechel
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Catherine A Moreau
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Smilla Steinbrück
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Fischer
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chris J Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Angelika Hoffmann
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Hentzschel
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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2
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Nagar R, Garcia Castillo SS, Pinzon-Ortiz M, Patray S, Coppi A, Kanatani S, Moritz RL, Swearingen KE, Ferguson MAJ, Sinnis P. The major surface protein of malaria sporozoites is GPI-anchored to the plasma membrane. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107557. [PMID: 39002668 PMCID: PMC11359735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107557] [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: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor protein modification in Plasmodium species is well known and represents the principal form of glycosylation in these organisms. The structure and biosynthesis of GPI anchors of Plasmodium spp. has been primarily studied in the asexual blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum and is known to contain the typical conserved GPI structure of EtN-P-Man3GlcN-PI. Here, we have investigated the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) for the presence of a GPI anchor. CSP is the major surface protein of Plasmodium sporozoites, the infective stage of the malaria parasite. While it is widely assumed that CSP is a GPI-anchored cell surface protein, compelling biochemical evidence for this supposition is absent. Here, we employed metabolic labeling and mass-spectrometry-based approaches to confirm the presence of a GPI anchor in CSP. Biosynthetic radiolabeling of CSP with [3H]-palmitic acid and [3H]-ethanolamine, with the former being base-labile and therefore ester-linked, provided strong evidence for the presence of a GPI anchor on CSP, but these data alone were not definitive. To provide further evidence, immunoprecipitated CSP was analyzed for the presence of myo-inositol (a characteristic component of GPI anchor) using strong acid hydrolysis and GC-MS for highly sensitive and quantitative detection. The single ion monitoring (SIM) method for GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of the myo-inositol component in CSP. Taken together, these data provide confidence that the long-assumed presence of a GPI anchor on this important parasite protein is correct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupa Nagar
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Stefano S Garcia Castillo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Johns Hopkins Malaria Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maria Pinzon-Ortiz
- Department of Medical Parsitology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sharon Patray
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alida Coppi
- Department of Medical Parsitology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sachie Kanatani
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Michael A J Ferguson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Johns Hopkins Malaria Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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3
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McConville R, Krol JMM, Steel RWJ, O’Neill MT, Davey BK, Hodder AN, Nebl T, Cowman AF, Kneteman N, Boddey JA. Flp/ FRT-mediated disruption of ptex150 and exp2 in Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites inhibits liver-stage development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403442121. [PMID: 38968107 PMCID: PMC11252984 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403442121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes severe malaria and assembles a protein translocon (PTEX) complex at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) of infected erythrocytes, through which several hundred proteins are exported to facilitate growth. The preceding liver stage of infection involves growth in a hepatocyte-derived PVM; however, the importance of protein export during P. falciparum liver infection remains unexplored. Here, we use the FlpL/FRT system to conditionally excise genes in P. falciparum sporozoites for functional liver-stage studies. Disruption of PTEX members ptex150 and exp2 did not affect sporozoite development in mosquitoes or infectivity for hepatocytes but attenuated liver-stage growth in humanized mice. While PTEX150 deficiency reduced fitness on day 6 postinfection by 40%, EXP2 deficiency caused 100% loss of liver parasites, demonstrating that PTEX components are required for growth in hepatocytes to differing degrees. To characterize PTEX loss-of-function mutations, we localized four liver-stage Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) proteins. P. falciparum liver specific protein 2 (LISP2), liver-stage antigen 3 (LSA3), circumsporozoite protein (CSP), and a Plasmodium berghei LISP2 reporter all localized to the periphery of P. falciparum liver stages but were not exported beyond the PVM. Expression of LISP2 and CSP but not LSA3 was reduced in ptex150-FRT and exp2-FRT liver stages, suggesting that expression of some PEXEL proteins is affected directly or indirectly by PTEX disruption. These results show that PTEX150 and EXP2 are important for P. falciparum development in hepatocytes and emphasize the emerging complexity of PEXEL protein trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn McConville
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Jelte M. M. Krol
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Ryan W. J. Steel
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Matthew T. O’Neill
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Bethany K. Davey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Anthony N. Hodder
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Thomas Nebl
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Norman Kneteman
- Departments of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, ABT6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Justin A. Boddey
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Immune Defence, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
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4
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Yanik S, Venkatesh V, Gordy JT, Gabriel-Alameh M, Meza J, Li Y, Glass E, Flores-Garcia Y, Tam Y, Chaiyawong N, Sarkar D, Weissman D, Markham R, Srinivasan P. Immature dendritic cell-targeting mRNA vaccine expressing PfCSP enhances protective immune responses against Plasmodium liver infection. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4656309. [PMID: 39041038 PMCID: PMC11261966 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4656309/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Resurgence in malaria has been noted in 2022 with 249 million clinical cases resulting in 608,000 deaths, mostly in children under five. Two vaccines, RTS, S, and more recently R21, targeting the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) are recommended by the WHO but are not yet widely available. Strong humoral responses to neutralize sporozoites before they can infect the hepatocytes are important for vaccine-mediated protection. Suboptimal protection conferred by these first-generation vaccines highlight the need for approaches to improve vaccine-induced immune responses. With the recent success of mRNA-LNP vaccines against COVID-19, there is growing interest in leveraging this approach to enhance malaria vaccines. Here, we present the development of a novel chemokine fusion mRNA vaccine aimed at boosting immune responses to PfCSP by targeting the immunogen to immature dendritic cells (iDC). Vaccination of mice with mRNA encoding full-length CSP fused to macrophage inflammatory protein 3 alpha (MIP3α) encapsulated within lipid nanoparticles (LNP) elicited robust CD4+ T cell responses and enhanced antibody titers against NANP repeat epitopes compared to a conventional CSP mRNA-LNP vaccine. Importantly, the CSP-MIP3α fusion vaccine provided significantly greater protection against liver infection upon challenge with P. berghei PfCSP transgenic sporozoites. This enhanced protection was associated with multifunctional CD4+ T cells levels and anti-NANP repeat titers. This study highlights the potential to augment immune responses to PfCSP through iDC targeting and bolster protection against malaria liver infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Yanik
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Varsha Venkatesh
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - James T Gordy
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Jacob Meza
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yangchen Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Elizabeth Glass
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yevel Flores-Garcia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ying Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nattawat Chaiyawong
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Deepti Sarkar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Drew Weissman
- Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Richard Markham
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Prakash Srinivasan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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5
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Schwarzer E, Skorokhod O. Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins of Malaria Parasites during the Life Cycle. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6145. [PMID: 38892332 PMCID: PMC11173270 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116145] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are essential for regulating protein functions, influencing various fundamental processes in eukaryotes. These include, but are not limited to, cell signaling, protein trafficking, the epigenetic control of gene expression, and control of the cell cycle, as well as cell proliferation, differentiation, and interactions between cells. In this review, we discuss protein PTMs that play a key role in the malaria parasite biology and its pathogenesis. Phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, lipidation and lipoxidation, glycosylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation, nitrosylation and glutathionylation, all of which occur in malarial parasites, are reviewed. We provide information regarding the biological significance of these modifications along all phases of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium spp. Importantly, not only the parasite, but also the host and vector protein PTMs are often crucial for parasite growth and development. In addition to metabolic regulations, protein PTMs can result in epitopes that are able to elicit both innate and adaptive immune responses of the host or vector. We discuss some existing and prospective results from antimalarial drug discovery trials that target various PTM-related processes in the parasite or host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelin Schwarzer
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Oleksii Skorokhod
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
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6
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Bhalerao P, Singh S, Prajapati VK, Bhatt TK. Exploring malaria parasite surface proteins to devise highly immunogenic multi-epitope subunit vaccine for Plasmodium falciparum. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2024; 22:100377. [PMID: 38797552 PMCID: PMC11089370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria has remained a major health concern for decades among people living in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Plasmodium falciparum is one of the critical species that cause severe malaria and is responsible for major mortality. Moreover, the parasite has generated resistance against all WHO recommended drugs and therapies. Therefore, there is an urgent need for preventive measures in the form of reliable vaccines to achieve the target of a malaria-free world. Surface proteins are the preferable choice for subunit vaccine development because they are rapidly detected and engaged by host immune cells and vaccination-induced antibodies. Additionally, abundant surface or membrane proteins may contribute to the opsonization of pathogens by vaccine-induced antibodies. RESULTS In our study, we have listed all those surface proteins from the literature that could be functionally important and essential for infection and immune evasion of the malaria parasite. Eight Plasmodium surface and membrane proteins from the pre-erythrocyte and erythrocyte stages were shortlisted. Thirty-seven epitopes (B-cell, CTL, and HTL epitopes) from these proteins were predicted using immune-informatic tools and joined with suitable peptide linkers to design a vaccine construct. A TLR-4 agonist peptide adjuvant was added at the N-terminus of the multi-epitope series, followed by the PADRE sequence and EAAAK linker. The TLR-4 receptor was docked with the construct's anticipated model structure. The complex of vaccine and TLR-4, with the lowest energy -1514, was found to be stable under simulated physiological settings. CONCLUSION This study has provided a novel multi-epitope construct that may be exploited further for the development of an efficient vaccine for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preshita Bhalerao
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandar Sindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Satyendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandar Sindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Tarun Kumar Bhatt
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandar Sindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer 305817, Rajasthan, India.
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7
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Nagar R, Garcia Castillo SS, Pinzon-Ortiz M, Patray S, Coppi A, Kanatani S, Moritz RL, Swearingen KE, Ferguson MAJ, Sinnis P. The major surface protein of malaria sporozoites is GPI-anchored to the plasma membrane. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.21.595204. [PMID: 38826328 PMCID: PMC11142060 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.21.595204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor protein modification in Plasmodium species is well known and represents the principal form of glycosylation in these organisms. The structure and biosynthesis of GPI anchors of Plasmodium spp. has been primarily studied in the asexual blood stage of P. falciparum and is known to contain the typical conserved GPI structure of EtN-P-Man3GlcN-PI. Here, we have investigated the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) for the presence of a GPI-anchor. CSP is the major surface protein of Plasmodium sporozoites, the infective stage of the malaria parasite. While it is widely assumed that CSP is a GPI-anchored cell surface protein, compelling biochemical evidence for this supposition is absent. Here, we employed metabolic labeling and mass-spectrometry based approaches to confirm the presence of a GPI anchor in CSP. Biosynthetic radiolabeling of CSP with [ 3 H]-palmitic acid and [ 3 H]-ethanolamine, with the former being base-labile and therefore ester-linked, provided strong evidence for the presence of a GPI anchor on CSP, but these data alone were not definitive. To provide further evidence, immunoprecipitated CSP was analyzed for presence of myo -inositol (a characteristic component of GPI anchor) using strong acid hydrolysis and GC-MS for a highly sensitive and quantitative detection. The single ion monitoring (SIM) method for GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of the myo -inositol component in CSP. Taken together, these data provide confidence that the long-assumed presence of a GPI anchor on this important parasite protein is correct.
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8
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Segireddy RR, Belda H, Yang ASP, Dundas K, Knoeckel J, Galaway F, Wood L, Quinkert D, Knuepfer E, Treeck M, Wright GJ, Douglas AD. A screen for Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein binding to human hepatocyte surface receptors identifies novel host-pathogen interactions. Malar J 2024; 23:151. [PMID: 38755636 PMCID: PMC11098746 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04913-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes is an essential step in the Plasmodium life-cycle and has similarities, at the cellular level, to merozoite invasion of erythrocytes. In the case of the Plasmodium blood-stage, efforts to identify host-pathogen protein-protein interactions have yielded important insights including vaccine candidates. In the case of sporozoite-hepatocyte invasion, the host-pathogen protein-protein interactions involved are poorly understood. METHODS To gain a better understanding of the protein-protein interaction between the sporozoite ligands and host receptors, a systematic screen was performed. The previous Plasmodium falciparum and human surface protein ectodomain libraries were substantially extended, resulting in the creation of new libraries comprising 88 P. falciparum sporozoite protein coding sequences and 182 sequences encoding human hepatocyte surface proteins. Having expressed recombinant proteins from these sequences, a plate-based assay was used, capable of detecting low affinity interactions between recombinant proteins, modified for enhanced throughput, to screen the proteins for interactions. The novel interactions identified in the screen were characterized biochemically, and their essential role in parasite invasion was further elucidated using antibodies and genetically manipulated Plasmodium parasites. RESULTS A total of 7540 sporozoite-hepatocyte protein pairs were tested under conditions capable of detecting interactions of at least 1.2 µM KD. An interaction between the human fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) and the P. falciparum protein Pf34 is identified and reported here, characterizing its affinity and demonstrating the blockade of the interaction by reagents, including a monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, further interactions between Pf34 and a second P. falciparum rhoptry neck protein, PfRON6, and between human low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and the P. falciparum protein PIESP15 are identified. Conditional genetic deletion confirmed the essentiality of PfRON6 in the blood-stage, consistent with the important role of this protein in parasite lifecycle. Pf34 was refractory to attempted genetic modification. Antibodies to Pf34 abrogated the interaction and had a modest effect upon sporozoite invasion into primary human hepatocytes. CONCLUSION Pf34 and PfRON6 may be members of a functionally important invasion complex which could be a target for future interventions. The modified interaction screening assay, protein expression libraries and P. falciparum mutant parasites reported here may be a useful tool for protein interaction discovery and antigen candidate screening which could be of wider value to the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rameswara R Segireddy
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK.
| | - Hugo Belda
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Annie S P Yang
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kirsten Dundas
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Julia Knoeckel
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Francis Galaway
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Laura Wood
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Doris Quinkert
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Ellen Knuepfer
- The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Gavin J Wright
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Alexander D Douglas
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK.
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Khan S, Patel MP, Patni AD, Cha SJ. Targeting Plasmodium Life Cycle with Novel Parasite Ligands as Vaccine Antigens. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:484. [PMID: 38793735 PMCID: PMC11125637 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050484] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The WHO reported an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 malaria deaths in 85 countries in 2022. A total of 94% of malaria deaths occurred in Africa, 80% of which were children under 5. In other words, one child dies every minute from malaria. The RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine, which uses the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) to target sporozoite infection of the liver, achieved modest efficacy. The Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program (MVIP), coordinated by the WHO and completed at the end of 2023, found that immunization reduced mortality by only 13%. To further reduce malaria death, the development of a more effective malaria vaccine is a high priority. Three malaria vaccine targets being considered are the sporozoite liver infection (pre-erythrocytic stage), the merozoite red blood cell infection (asexual erythrocytic stage), and the gamete/zygote mosquito infection (sexual/transmission stage). These targets involve specific ligand-receptor interactions. However, most current malaria vaccine candidates that target two major parasite population bottlenecks, liver infection, and mosquito midgut infection, do not focus on such parasite ligands. Here, we evaluate the potential of newly identified parasite ligands with a phage peptide-display technique as novel malaria vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sung-Jae Cha
- Department of Medical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207, USA; (S.K.); (M.P.P.); (A.D.P.)
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10
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van Schuijlenburg R, Azargoshasb S, de Korne CM, Sijtsma JC, Bezemer S, van der Ham AJ, Baalbergen E, Geurten F, de Bes-Roeleveld LM, Chevalley-Maurel SC, van Oosterom MN, van Leeuwen FWB, Franke-Fayard B, Roestenberg M. Ageing of Plasmodium falciparum malaria sporozoites alters their motility, infectivity and reduces immune activation in vitro. Malar J 2024; 23:111. [PMID: 38641838 PMCID: PMC11027264 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04946-7] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sporozoites (SPZ), the infective form of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, can be inoculated into the human host skin by Anopheline mosquitoes. These SPZ migrate at approximately 1 µm/s to find a blood vessel and travel to the liver where they infect hepatocytes and multiply. In the skin they are still low in number (50-100 SPZ) and vulnerable to immune attack by antibodies and skin macrophages. This is why whole SPZ and SPZ proteins are used as the basis for most malaria vaccines currently deployed and undergoing late clinical testing. Mosquitoes typically inoculate SPZ into a human host between 14 and 25 days after their previous infective blood meal. However, it is unknown whether residing time within the mosquito affects SPZ condition, infectivity or immunogenicity. This study aimed to unravel how the age of P. falciparum SPZ in salivary glands (14, 17, or 20 days post blood meal) affects their infectivity and the ensuing immune responses. METHODS SPZ numbers, viability by live/dead staining, motility using dedicated sporozoite motility orienting and organizing tool software (SMOOT), and infectivity of HC-04.j7 liver cells at 14, 17 and 20 days after mosquito feeding have been investigated. In vitro co-culture assays with SPZ stimulated monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMɸ) and CD8+ T-cells, analysed by flow cytometry, were used to investigate immune responses. RESULTS SPZ age did not result in different SPZ numbers or viability. However, a markedly different motility pattern, whereby motility decreased from 89% at day 14 to 80% at day 17 and 71% at day 20 was observed (p ≤ 0.0001). Similarly, infectivity of day 20 SPZ dropped to ~ 50% compared with day 14 SPZ (p = 0.004). MoMɸ were better able to take up day 14 SPZ than day 20 SPZ (from 7.6% to 4.1%, p = 0.03) and displayed an increased expression of pro-inflammatory CD80, IL-6 (p = 0.005), regulatory markers PDL1 (p = 0.02), IL-10 (p = 0.009) and cytokines upon phagocytosis of younger SPZ. Interestingly, co-culture of these cells with CD8+ T-cells revealed a decreased expression of activation marker CD137 and cytokine IFNγ compared to their day 20 counterparts. These findings suggest that older (day 17-20) P. falciparum SPZ are less infectious and have decreased immune regulatory potential. CONCLUSION Overall, this data is a first step in enhancing the understanding of how mosquito residing time affects P. falciparum SPZ and could impact the understanding of the P. falciparum infectious reservoir and the potency of whole SPZ vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roos van Schuijlenburg
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Samaneh Azargoshasb
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Clarize M de Korne
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen C Sijtsma
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sascha Bezemer
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Alwin J van der Ham
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Els Baalbergen
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Fiona Geurten
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Laura M de Bes-Roeleveld
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Severine C Chevalley-Maurel
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Matthias N van Oosterom
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Fijs W B van Leeuwen
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Meta Roestenberg
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
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11
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Srivastava PN, Paul P, Mishra S. Protein O-Fucosyltransferase Is Required for the Efficient Invasion of Hepatocytes by Plasmodium berghei Sporozoites. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1116-1125. [PMID: 38421807 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The O-fucosylation of the thrombospondin type I repeat (TSR) domain is important for TSR-containing proteins' optimal folding and stability. However, the importance of Plasmodium O-fucosyltransferase 2 (POFut2) remains unclear due to two different reports. Here, we disrupted the POFut2 gene in Plasmodium berghei and demonstrated that POFut2 KO parasites develop normally in blood and mosquito stages but show reduced infectivity in mice. We found that the reduced infectivity of POFut2 KO sporozoites was due to a diminished level of TRAP that affected the parasite gliding motility and hepatocyte infectivity. Using all-atom MD simulation, we also hypothesize that O-fucosylation impacts the TSR domain's stability more than its heparin binding capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Narain Srivastava
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Plabita Paul
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Satish Mishra
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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12
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Jairoce C, Macià D, Torres-Yaguana JP, Mayer L, Vidal M, Santano R, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Reiter K, Narum DL, Lopez-Gutierrez B, Hamerly T, Sacarlal J, Aguilar R, Dinglasan RR, Moncunill G, Izquierdo L, Dobaño C. RTS,S/AS02A Malaria Vaccine-Induced IgG Responses Equally Recognize Native-Like Fucosylated and Nonfucosylated Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Proteins. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:795-799. [PMID: 37889513 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The RTS,S/AS02A malaria vaccine is based on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), which is O-fucosylated on the sporozoite surface. We determined whether RTS,S/AS02A-induced immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies recognize vaccine-like nonfucosylated PfCSP better than native-like fucosylated PfCSP. Similar to previous vaccine trials, RTS,S/AS02A vaccination induced high anti-PfCSP IgG levels associated with malaria protection. IgG recognition of nonfucosylated and fucosylated PfCSP was equivalent, suggesting that PfCSP fucosylation does not affect antibody recognition. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00197041.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjerai Jairoce
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Dídac Macià
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge P Torres-Yaguana
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Leonie Mayer
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Marta Vidal
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Rebeca Santano
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Fundación Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigación y el Desarrollo, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Karine Reiter
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - David L Narum
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Borja Lopez-Gutierrez
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Timothy Hamerly
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jahit Sacarlal
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ruth Aguilar
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Rhoel R Dinglasan
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Gemma Moncunill
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlota Dobaño
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Jennison C, Armstrong JM, Dankwa DA, Hertoghs N, Kumar S, Abatiyow BA, Naung M, Minkah NK, Swearingen KE, Moritz R, Barry AE, Kappe SHI, Vaughan AM. Plasmodium GPI-anchored micronemal antigen is essential for parasite transmission through the mosquito host. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:394-412. [PMID: 37314965 PMCID: PMC11076100 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites, the eukaryotic pathogens that cause malaria, feature three distinct invasive forms tailored to the host environment they must navigate and invade for life cycle progression. One conserved feature of these invasive forms is the micronemes, apically oriented secretory organelles involved in egress, motility, adhesion, and invasion. Here we investigate the role of GPI-anchored micronemal antigen (GAMA), which shows a micronemal localization in all zoite forms of the rodent-infecting species Plasmodium berghei. ∆GAMA parasites are severely defective for invasion of the mosquito midgut. Once formed, oocysts develop normally, however, sporozoites are unable to egress and exhibit defective motility. Epitope-tagging of GAMA revealed tight temporal expression late during sporogony and showed that GAMA is shed during sporozoite gliding motility in a similar manner to circumsporozoite protein. Complementation of P. berghei knockout parasites with full-length P. falciparum GAMA partially restored infectivity to mosquitoes, indicating conservation of function across Plasmodium species. A suite of parasites with GAMA expressed under the promoters of CTRP, CAP380, and TRAP, further confirmed the involvement of GAMA in midgut infection, motility, and vertebrate infection. These data show GAMA's involvement in sporozoite motility, egress, and invasion, implicating GAMA as a regulator of microneme function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Jennison
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Janna M. Armstrong
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Dorender A. Dankwa
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Nina Hertoghs
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Biley A. Abatiyow
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Myo Naung
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Victoria, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Carlton, Australia
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Nana K. Minkah
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Kristian E. Swearingen
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria, Geelong, Australia
| | - Robert Moritz
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria, Geelong, Australia
| | - Alyssa E. Barry
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
- Institute for Systems Biology, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
- Burnet Institute, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Ashley M. Vaughan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Washington, Seattle, USA
- Burnet Institute, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Washington, Seattle, USA
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14
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Cha SJ, Vega-Rodriguez J, Tao D, Kudyba HM, Hanner K, Jacobs-Lorena M. Plasmodium female gamete surface HSP90 is a key determinant for fertilization. mBio 2024; 15:e0314223. [PMID: 38131664 PMCID: PMC10865824 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03142-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium fertilization, an essential step for the development of the malaria parasite in the mosquito, is a prime target for blocking pathogen transmission. Using phage peptide display screening, we identified MG1, a peptide that binds to male gametes and inhibits fertilization, presumably by competing with a female gamete ligand. Anti-MG1 antibodies bind to the female gamete surface and, by doing so, also inhibit fertilization. We determined that this antibody recognizes HSP90 on the surface of Plasmodium female gametes. Our findings establish Plasmodium HSP90 as a prime target for the development of a transmission-blocking vaccine.IMPORTANCEMalaria kills over half a million people every year and this number has not decreased in recent years. The development of new tools to combat this disease is urgently needed. In this article, we report the identification of a key molecule-HSP90-on the surface of the parasite's female gamete that is required for fertilization to occur and for the completion of the parasite cycle in the mosquito. HSP90 is a promising candidate for the development of a transmission-blocking vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Jae Cha
- Department of Medical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA
| | - Joel Vega-Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Dingyin Tao
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Heather M. Kudyba
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Kelly Hanner
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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15
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Gowda DC, Miller LH. Glycosylation in malaria parasites: what do we know? Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:131-146. [PMID: 38262838 PMCID: PMC10923157 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.12.006] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
In malaria parasites, although post-translational modification of proteins with N-. O-, and C-glycosidic bond-linked glycans is limited, it is confined to relatively fewer proteins in which the glycans are present at significant levels and may have important functions. Furthermore, several proteins are modified with glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) which represent the predominant glycan synthesized by parasites. Modification of proteins with GPIs is obligatory for parasite survival as GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) play essential roles in all life cycle stages of the parasites, including development, egress, gametogenesis, motility, and host cell adhesion and invasion. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on the structures and potential functions of the glycan moieties of parasite proteins. The knowledge has important implications for the development of drugs and vaccines for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Channe Gowda
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Louis H Miller
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
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16
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Pang W, Bai J, Zhu L, Liu F, Wu Y, Yang F, Zheng L, Liu P, Zhang Y, Wang M, Li J, Zhu X, Cui L, Cao Y. Functional characterization of a conserved membrane protein, Pbs54, involved in gamete fertilization in Plasmodium berghei. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:99-107. [PMID: 37774810 PMCID: PMC11283859 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The successful completion of gamete fertilization is essential for malaria parasite transmission, and this process can be targeted by intervention strategies. In this study, we identified a conserved gene (PBANKA_0813300) in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, which encodes a protein of 54 kDa (designated as Pbs54). Localization studies indicated that Pbs54 is associated with the plasma membranes of gametes and ookinetes. Functional studies by gene disruption showed that the Δpbs54 parasites had no defect in asexual proliferation, gametocyte development, or gametogenesis. However, the interactions between male and female gametes were significantly decreased compared with wild-type parasites. The Δpbs54 lines did not show a further reduction in zygote and ookinete numbers during in vitro culture, indicating that the defects were probably restricted to gamete fertilization. Consistent with this finding, mosquitoes fed on Δpbs54-infected mice showed a 30.1% reduction in infection prevalence and a 74.7% reduction in oocyst intensity. Cross-fertilization assay indicated that both male and female gametes were impaired in the Δpbs54 parasites. To evaluate its transmission-blocking potential, we obtained polyclonal antibodies from mice immunized with the recombinant Pbs54 (rPbs54) protein. In vitro assays showed that anti-rPbs54 sera inhibited ookinete formation by 42.7%. Our experiments identified Pbs54 as a fertility factor required for mosquito transmission and a novel candidate for a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Pang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jie Bai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liying Zhu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yudi Wu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Li Zheng
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Pengbo Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yaowen Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Meilian Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Xiaotong Zhu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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Onyango OH, Mwenda CM, Gitau G, Muoma J, Okoth P. In-silico analysis of potent Mosquirix vaccine adjuvant leads. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:155. [PMID: 38032502 PMCID: PMC10689608 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00590-x] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND World Health Organization recommend the use of malaria vaccine, Mosquirix, as a malaria prevention strategy. However, Mosquirix has failed to reduce the global burden of malaria because of its inefficacy. The Mosquirix vaccine's modest effectiveness against malaria, 36% among kids aged 5 to 17 months who need at least four doses, fails to aid malaria eradication. Therefore, highly effective and efficacious malaria vaccines are required. The well-characterized P. falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein can be used to discover adjuvants that can increase the efficacy of Mosquirix. Therefore, the study sought to undertake an in-silico discovery of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein inhibitors with pharmacological properties on Mosquirix using hierarchical virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation. RESULTS Monoclonal antibody L9, an anti-Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein molecule, was used to identify Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein inhibitors with pharmacological properties on Mosquirix during a virtual screening process in ZINCPHARMER that yielded 23 hits. After drug-likeness and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity property analysis in the SwissADME web server, only 9 of the 23 hits satisfied the requirements. The 9 compounds were docked with Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein using the PyRx software to understand their interactions. ZINC25374360 (-8.1 kcal/mol), ZINC40144754 (-8.3 kcal/mol), and ZINC71996727 (-8.9 kcal/mol) bound strongly to Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein with binding affinities of less than -8.0 kcal/mol. The stability of these molecularly docked Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein-inhibitor complexes were assessed through molecular dynamics simulation using GROMACS 2022. ZINC25374360 and ZINC71996727 formed stable complexes with Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein. They were subjected to in vitro validation for their inhibitory potential. The IC50 values ranging between 250 and 350 ng/ml suggest inhibition of parasite development. CONCLUSION Therefore, the two Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein inhibitors can be used as vaccine adjuvants to increase the efficacy of the existing Mosquirix vaccine. Nevertheless, additional in vivo tests, structural optimization studies, and homogenization analysis are essential to determine the anti-plasmodial action of these adjuvants in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okello Harrison Onyango
- Department of Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology, Computational Biology, and Bioinformatics Section), School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. BOX 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya.
| | - Cynthia Mugo Mwenda
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Meru University of Science and Technology, P.O. BOX 972-60200, Meru, Kenya
| | - Grace Gitau
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological and Life Sciences, The Technical University of Kenya, P.O. BOX 52428-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - John Muoma
- Department of Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology, Computational Biology, and Bioinformatics Section), School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. BOX 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya
| | - Patrick Okoth
- Department of Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology, Computational Biology, and Bioinformatics Section), School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. BOX 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya
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18
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Xia M, Huang P, Vago F, Jiang W, Tan M. Pseudovirus Nanoparticles Displaying Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Proteins Elicited High Titers of Sporozoite-Binding Antibody. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1650. [PMID: 38005982 PMCID: PMC10674615 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11111650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites remains a public health threat. The circumsporozoite proteins (CSPs) of Plasmodium sporozoite play a key role in Plasmodium infection, serving as an excellent vaccine target. METHODS using a self-assembled S60 nanoparticle platform, we generated pseudovirus nanoparticles (PVNPs) displaying CSPs, named S-CSPs, for enhanced immunogenicity. RESULTS purified Hisx6-tagged or tag-free S-CSPs self-assembled into PVNPs that consist of a norovirus S60 inner shell and multiple surface-displayed CSPs. The majority of the PVNPs measured ~27 nm with some size variations, and their three-dimensional structure was modeled. The PVNP-displayed CSPs retained their glycan receptor-binding function. A mouse immunization study showed that PVNPs induced a high antibody response against CSP antigens and the PVNP-immunized mouse sera stained the CSPs of Plasmodium sporozoites at high titer. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION the PVNP-displayed CSPs retain their authentic antigenic feature and receptor-binding function. The CSP-specific antibody elicited by the S-CSP PVNPs binds original CSPs and potentially inhibits the attachment of Plasmodium sporozoites to their host cells, a key step for liver invasion by the sporozoites. Thus, S-CSP PVNPs may be an excellent vaccine candidate against malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
| | - Frank Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (F.V.); (W.J.)
| | - Ming Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (M.X.); (P.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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Nicholas J, De SL, Thawornpan P, Brashear AM, Kolli SK, Subramani PA, Barnes SJ, Cui L, Chootong P, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH. Preliminary characterization of Plasmodium vivax sporozoite antigens as pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidates. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011598. [PMID: 37703302 PMCID: PMC10519608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax pre-erythrocytic (PE) vaccine research has lagged far behind efforts to develop Plasmodium falciparum vaccines. There is a critical gap in our knowledge of PE antigen targets that can induce functionally inhibitory neutralizing antibody responses. To overcome this gap and guide the selection of potential PE vaccine candidates, we considered key characteristics such as surface exposure, essentiality to infectivity and liver stage development, expression as recombinant proteins, and functional immunogenicity. Selected P. vivax sporozoite antigens were surface sporozoite protein 3 (SSP3), sporozoite microneme protein essential for cell traversal (SPECT1), sporozoite surface protein essential for liver-stage development (SPELD), and M2 domain of MAEBL. Sequence analysis revealed little variation occurred in putative B-cell and T-cell epitopes of the PE candidates. Each antigen was tested for expression as refolded recombinant proteins using an established bacterial expression platform and only SPELD failed. The successfully expressed antigens were immunogenic in vaccinated laboratory mice and were positively reactive with serum antibodies of P. vivax-exposed residents living in an endemic region in Thailand. Vaccine immune antisera were tested for reactivity to native sporozoite proteins and for their potential vaccine efficacy using an in vitro inhibition of liver stage development assay in primary human hepatocytes quantified on day 6 post-infection by high content imaging analysis. The anti-PE sera produced significant inhibition of P. vivax sporozoite invasion and liver stage development. This report provides an initial characterization of potential new PE candidates for a future P. vivax vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Nicholas
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sai Lata De
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Pongsakorn Thawornpan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Awtum M. Brashear
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Surendra Kumar Kolli
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Pradeep Annamalai Subramani
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Samantha J. Barnes
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Liwang Cui
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Francis Babila Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
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20
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Xia M, Vago F, Han L, Huang P, Nguyen L, Boons GJ, Klassen JS, Jiang W, Tan M. The αTSR Domain of Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Protein Bound Heparan Sulfates and Elicited High Titers of Sporozoite Binding Antibody After Displayed by Nanoparticles. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:3087-3107. [PMID: 37312932 PMCID: PMC10259582 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s406314] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria is a devastating infectious illness caused by protozoan Plasmodium parasites. The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) on Plasmodium sporozoites binds heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) receptors for liver invasion, a critical step for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Methods In this study, we characterized the αTSR domain that covers region III and the thrombospondin type-I repeat (TSR) of the CSP using various biochemical, glycobiological, bioengineering, and immunological approaches. Results We found for the first time that the αTSR bound heparan sulfate (HS) glycans through support by a fused protein, indicating that the αTSR is a key functional domain and thus a vaccine target. When the αTSR was fused to the S domain of norovirus VP1, the fusion protein self-assembled into uniform S60-αTSR nanoparticles. Three-dimensional structure reconstruction revealed that each nanoparticle consists of an S60 nanoparticle core and 60 surface displayed αTSR antigens. The nanoparticle displayed αTSRs retained the binding function to HS glycans, indicating that they maintained authentic conformations. Both tagged and tag-free S60-αTSR nanoparticles were produced via the Escherichia coli system at high yield by scalable approaches. They are highly immunogenic in mice, eliciting high titers of αTSR-specific antibody that bound specifically to the CSPs of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites at high titer. Discussion and Conclusion Our data demonstrated that the αTSR is an important functional domain of the CSP. The S60-αTSR nanoparticle displaying multiple αTSR antigens is a promising vaccine candidate potentially against attachment and infection of Plasmodium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Frank Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ling Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pengwei Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Linh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Geert-Jan Boons
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - John S Klassen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ming Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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21
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Izquierdo L. The glycobiology of plasmodium falciparum: New approaches and recent advances. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108178. [PMID: 37216996 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Like any other microorganism, pathogenic protozoan parasites rely heavily on glycoconjugates and glycan binding proteins to protect themselves from the environment and to interact with their diverse hosts. A thorough comprehension of how glycobiology contributes to the survival and virulence of these organisms may reveal unknown aspects of their biology and may open much needed avenues for the design of new strategies against them. In the case of Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the vast majority of malaria cases and deaths, the restricted variety and the simplicity of its glycans seemed to confer limited significance to the role played by glycoconjugates in the parasite. Nonetheless, the last 10 to 15 years of research are revealing a clearer and more defined picture. Thus, the use of new experimental techniques and the results obtained provide new avenues for understanding the biology of the parasite, as well as opportunities for the development of much required new tools against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Izquierdo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain.
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22
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Oludada OE, Costa G, Burn Aschner C, Obraztsova AS, Prieto K, Canetta C, Hoffman SL, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B, Murugan R, Julien JP, Levashina EA, Wardemann H. Molecular and functional properties of human Plasmodium falciparum CSP C-terminus antibodies. EMBO Mol Med 2023:e17454. [PMID: 37082831 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202317454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the central repeat and junction domain of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) have been studied extensively to guide malaria vaccine design compared to antibodies against the PfCSP C terminus. Here, we describe the molecular characteristics and protective potential of 73 germline and mutated human mAbs against the highly immunogenic PfCSP C-terminal domain. Two mAbs recognized linear epitopes in the C-terminal linker with sequence similarity to repeat and junction motifs, whereas all others targeted conformational epitopes in the α-thrombospondin repeat (α-TSR) domain. Specificity for the polymorphic Th2R/Th3R but not the conserved RII+/CS.T3 region in the α-TSR was associated with IGHV3-21/IGVL3-21 or IGLV3-1 gene usage. Although the C terminus specific mAbs showed signs of more efficient affinity maturation and class-switching compared to anti-repeat mAbs, live sporozoite binding and inhibitory activity was limited to a single C-linker reactive mAb with cross-reactivity to the central repeat and junction. The data provide novel insights in the human anti-C-linker and anti-α-TSR antibody response that support exclusion of the PfCSP C terminus from malaria vaccine designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi Ernest Oludada
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biosciences Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Giulia Costa
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Anna S Obraztsova
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biosciences Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katherine Prieto
- The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Caterina Canetta
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre de Recherches de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Tübingen, Germany
- Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rajagopal Murugan
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jean-Philippe Julien
- The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elena A Levashina
- Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hedda Wardemann
- B Cell Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
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23
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Zhang G, Niu G, Hooker–Romera D, Shabani S, Ramelow J, Wang X, Butler NS, James AA, Li J. Targeting plasmodium α-tubulin-1 to block malaria transmission to mosquitoes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1132647. [PMID: 37009496 PMCID: PMC10064449 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1132647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium ookinetes use an invasive apparatus to invade mosquito midguts, and tubulins are the major structural proteins of this apical complex. We examined the role of tubulins in malaria transmission to mosquitoes. Our results demonstrate that the rabbit polyclonal antibodies (pAb) against human α-tubulin significantly reduced the number of P. falciparum oocysts in Anopheles gambiae midguts, while rabbit pAb against human β-tubulin did not. Further studies showed that pAb, specifically against P. falciparum α-tubulin-1, also significantly limited P. falciparum transmission to mosquitoes. We also generated mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) using recombinant P. falciparum α-tubulin-1. Out of 16 mAb, two mAb, A3 and A16, blocked P. falciparum transmission with EC50 of 12 μg/ml and 2.8 μg/ml. The epitopes of A3 and A16 were determined to be a conformational and linear sequence of EAREDLAALEKDYEE, respectively. To understand the mechanism of the antibody-blocking activity, we studied the accessibility of live ookinete α-tubulin-1 to antibodies and its interaction with mosquito midgut proteins. Immunofluorescent assays showed that pAb could bind to the apical complex of live ookinetes. Moreover, both ELISA and pull-down assays demonstrated that insect cell-expressed mosquito midgut protein, fibrinogen-related protein 1 (FREP1), interacts with P. falciparum α-tubulin-1. Since ookinete invasion is directional, we conclude that the interaction between Anopheles FREP1 protein and Plasmodium α-tubulin-1 anchors and orients the ookinete invasive apparatus towards the midgut PM and promotes the efficient parasite infection in the mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genwei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Guodong Niu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecule Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Diana Hooker–Romera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecule Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Sadeq Shabani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecule Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Julian Ramelow
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecule Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Noah S. Butler
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Anthony A. James
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecule Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
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24
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Elsworth B, Keroack C, Rezvani Y, Paul A, Barazorda K, Tennessen J, Sack S, Moreira C, Gubbels MJ, Meyers M, Zarringhalam K, Duraisingh M. Babesia divergens egress from host cells is orchestrated by essential and druggable kinases and proteases. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2553721. [PMID: 36909484 PMCID: PMC10002801 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2553721/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan egress from host cells is fundamental to the spread of infection and is poorly characterized in Babesia spp., parasites of veterinary importance and emerging zoonoses. Through the use of video microscopy, transcriptomics and chemical genetics, we have implicated signaling, proteases and gliding motility as key drivers of egress by Babesia divergens. We developed reverse genetics to perform a knockdown screen of putative mediators of egress, identifying kinases and proteases involved in distinct steps of egress (ASP3, PKG and CDPK4) and invasion (ASP2, ASP3 and PKG). Inhibition of egress leads to continued intracellular replication, indicating exit from the replication cycle is uncoupled from egress. Chemical genetics validated PKG, ASP2 and ASP3 as druggable targets in Babesia spp. All taken together, egress in B. divergens more closely resembles T. gondii than the more evolutionarily-related Plasmodium spp. We have established a molecular framework for biological and translational studies of B. divergens egress.
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25
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Vigdorovich V, Patel H, Watson A, Raappana A, Reynolds L, Selman W, Beeman S, Edlefsen PT, Kappe SHI, Sather DN. Coimmunization with Preerythrocytic Antigens alongside Circumsporozoite Protein Can Enhance Sterile Protection against Plasmodium Sporozoite Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0379122. [PMID: 36847573 PMCID: PMC10100930 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03791-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle and present numerous antigen targets that may contribute to protective immune responses. The currently recommended vaccine-RTS,S-functions by targeting the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP), which is the most abundant surface protein of the sporozoite form responsible for initiating infection of the human host. Despite showing only moderate efficacy, RTS,S has established a strong foundation for the development of next-generation subunit vaccines. Our previous work characterizing the sporozoite surface proteome identified additional non-CSP antigens that may be useful as immunogens individually or in combination with CSP. In this study, we examined eight such antigens using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii as a model system. We demonstrate that despite conferring weak protection individually, coimmunizing each of several of these antigens alongside CSP could significantly enhance the sterile protection achieved by CSP immunization alone. Thus, our work provides compelling evidence that a multiantigen preerythrocytic vaccine approach may enhance protection compared to CSP-only vaccines. This lays the groundwork for further studies aimed at testing the identified antigen combinations in human vaccination trials that assess efficacy with controlled human malaria infection. IMPORTANCE The currently approved malaria vaccine targets a single parasite protein (CSP) and results in only partial protection. We tested several additional vaccine targets in combination with CSP to identify those that could enhance protection from infection upon challenge in the mouse malaria model. In identifying several such enhancing vaccine targets, our work indicates that a multiprotein immunization approach may be a promising avenue to achieving higher levels of protection from infection. Our work identified several candidate leads for follow-up in the models relevant for human malaria and provides an experimental framework for efficiently carrying out such screens for other combinations of vaccine targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Vigdorovich
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hardik Patel
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alexander Watson
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew Raappana
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laura Reynolds
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - William Selman
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Suzannah Beeman
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Paul T. Edlefsen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stefan H. I. Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - D. Noah Sather
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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26
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Fernandes P, Loubens M, Marinach C, Coppée R, Baron L, Grand M, Andre TP, Hamada S, Langlois AC, Briquet S, Bun P, Silvie O. Plasmodium sporozoites require the protein B9 to invade hepatocytes. iScience 2023; 26:106056. [PMID: 36761022 PMCID: PMC9906020 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites are transmitted to a mammalian host during blood feeding by an infected mosquito and invade hepatocytes for initial replication of the parasite into thousands of erythrocyte-invasive merozoites. Here we report that the B9 protein, a member of the 6-cysteine domain protein family, is secreted from sporozoite micronemes and is required for productive invasion of hepatocytes. The N-terminus of B9 forms a beta-propeller domain structurally related to CyRPA, a cysteine-rich protein forming an essential invasion complex in Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. The beta-propeller domain of B9 is essential for sporozoite infectivity and interacts with the 6-cysteine proteins P36 and P52 in a heterologous expression system. Our results suggest that, despite using distinct sets of parasite and host entry factors, Plasmodium sporozoites and merozoites may share common structural modules to assemble protein complexes for invasion of host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Fernandes
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Manon Loubens
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Carine Marinach
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Romain Coppée
- Université de Paris, UMR 261 MERIT, IRD, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Ludivine Baron
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Morgane Grand
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Thanh-Phuc Andre
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Soumia Hamada
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMS PASS, Plateforme Post-génomique de la Pitié Salpêtrière (P3S), 75013 Paris, France
| | - Anne-Claire Langlois
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Briquet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Bun
- INSERM U1266, NeurImag Facility, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurosciences of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
- Corresponding author
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27
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Tumwine-Downey I, Deroost K, Levy P, McLaughlin S, Hosking C, Langhorne J. Antibody-dependent immune responses elicited by blood stage-malaria infection contribute to protective immunity to the pre-erythrocytic stages. CURRENT RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 4:100054. [PMID: 36593995 PMCID: PMC9803926 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2022.100054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in transcriptomics and proteomics have revealed that different life-cycle stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, share antigens, thus allowing for the possibility of eliciting immunity to a parasite life-cycle stage that has not been experienced before. Using the Plasmodium chabaudi (AS strain) model of malaria in mice, we investigated how isolated exposure to blood-stage infection, bypassing a liver-stage infection, yields significant protection to sporozoite challenge resulting in lower liver parasite burdens. Antibodies are the main immune driver of this protection. Antibodies induced by blood-stage infection recognise proteins on the surface of sporozoites and can impair sporozoite gliding motility in vitro, suggesting a possible function in vivo. Furthermore, mice lacking B cells and/or secreted antibodies are not protected against a sporozoite challenge in mice that had a previous blood-stage infection. Conversely, effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells do not seem to play a role in protection from sporozoite challenge of mice previously exposed only to the blood stages of P. chabaudi. The protective response against pre-erythrocytic stages can be induced by infections initiated by serially passaged blood-stage parasites as well as recently mosquito transmitted parasites and is effective against a different strain of P. chabaudi (CB strain), but not against another rodent malaria species, P. yoelii. The possibility to induce protective cross-stage antibodies advocates the need to consider both stage-specific and cross-stage immune responses to malaria, as natural infection elicits exposure to all life-cycle stages. Future investigation into these cross-stage antibodies allows the opportunity for candidate antigens to contribute to malaria vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jean Langhorne
- Corresponding author. Malaria Immunology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
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28
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Kolli SK, Molina-Cruz A, Araki T, Geurten FJA, Ramesar J, Chevalley-Maurel S, Kroeze HJ, Bezemer S, de Korne C, Withers R, Raytselis N, El Hebieshy AF, Kim RQ, Child MA, Kakuta S, Hisaeda H, Kobayashi H, Annoura T, Hensbergen PJ, Franke-Fayard BM, Barillas-Mury C, Scheeren FA, Janse CJ. Malaria parasite evades mosquito immunity by glutaminyl cyclase-mediated posttranslational protein modification. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2209729119. [PMID: 35994647 PMCID: PMC9436314 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209729119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutaminyl cyclase (QC) modifies N-terminal glutamine or glutamic acid residues of target proteins into cyclic pyroglutamic acid (pGlu). Here, we report the biochemical and functional analysis of Plasmodium QC. We show that sporozoites of QC-null mutants of rodent and human malaria parasites are recognized by the mosquito immune system and melanized when they reach the hemocoel. Detailed analyses of rodent malaria QC-null mutants showed that sporozoite numbers in salivary glands are reduced in mosquitoes infected with QC-null or QC catalytically dead mutants. This phenotype can be rescued by genetic complementation or by disrupting mosquito melanization or phagocytosis by hemocytes. Mutation of a single QC-target glutamine of the major sporozoite surface protein (circumsporozoite protein; CSP) of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei also results in melanization of sporozoites. These findings indicate that QC-mediated posttranslational modification of surface proteins underlies evasion of killing of sporozoites by the mosquito immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra Kumar Kolli
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Alvaro Molina-Cruz
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD, 20852
| | - Tamasa Araki
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Fiona J. A. Geurten
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Jai Ramesar
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Severine Chevalley-Maurel
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Hans J. Kroeze
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Sascha Bezemer
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Clarize de Korne
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Roxanne Withers
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD, 20852
| | - Nadia Raytselis
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD, 20852
| | - Angela F. El Hebieshy
- Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZC, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert Q. Kim
- Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZC, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew A. Child
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Soichiro Kakuta
- Laboratory of Morphology and Image Analysis, Research Support Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hajime Hisaeda
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kobayashi
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjukuku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Takeshi Annoura
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Paul J. Hensbergen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Blandine M. Franke-Fayard
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD, 20852
| | - Ferenc A. Scheeren
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
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Lamb IM, Rios KT, Shukla A, Ahiya AI, Morrisey J, Mell JC, Lindner SE, Mather MW, Vaidya AB. Mitochondrially targeted proximity biotinylation and proteomic analysis in Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273357. [PMID: 35984838 PMCID: PMC9390924 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite ongoing efforts to control malaria infection, progress in lowering the number of deaths and infections appears to have stalled. The continued high incidence of malaria infection and mortality is in part due to emergence of parasites resistant to frontline antimalarials. This highlights the need for continued identification of novel protein drug targets. Mitochondrial functions in Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest species of human malaria parasite, are targets of validated antimalarials including atovaquone and proguanil (Malarone). Thus, there has been great interest in identifying other essential mitochondrial proteins as candidates for novel drug targets. Garnering an increased understanding of the proteomic landscape inside the P. falciparum mitochondrion will also allow us to learn about the basic biology housed within this unique organelle. We employed a proximity biotinylation technique and mass spectrometry to identify novel P. falciparum proteins putatively targeted to the mitochondrion. We fused the leader sequence of a mitochondrially targeted chaperone, Hsp60, to the promiscuous biotin ligase TurboID. Through these experiments, we generated a list of 122 "putative mitochondrial" proteins. To verify whether these proteins were indeed mitochondrial, we chose five candidate proteins of interest for localization studies using ectopic expression and tagging of each full-length protein. This allowed us to localize four candidate proteins of unknown function to the mitochondrion, three of which have previously been assessed to be essential. We suggest that phenotypic characterization of these and other proteins from this list of 122 could be fruitful in understanding the basic mitochondrial biology of these parasites and aid antimalarial drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M. Lamb
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Kelly T. Rios
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Anurag Shukla
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Avantika I. Ahiya
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Joanne Morrisey
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Joshua C. Mell
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Scott E. Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael W. Mather
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Akhil B. Vaidya
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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A Role for Basigin in Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0020522. [PMID: 35913173 PMCID: PMC9387297 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00205-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of specific host cell surface receptors during Toxoplasma gondii invasion of host cells is poorly defined. Here, we interrogated the role of the well-known malarial invasion receptor, basigin, in T. gondii infection of astrocytes. We found that primary astrocytes express two members of the BASIGIN (BSG) immunoglobulin family, basigin and embigin, but did not express neuroplastin. Antibody blockade of either basigin or embigin caused a significant reduction of parasite infectivity in astrocytes. The specific role of basigin during T. gondii invasion was further examined using a mouse astrocytic cell line (C8-D30), which exclusively expresses basigin. CRISPR-mediated deletion of basigin in C8-D30 cells resulted in decreased T. gondii infectivity. T. gondii replication and invasion efficiency were not altered by basigin deficiency, but parasite attachment to astrocytes was markedly reduced. We also conducted a proteomic screen to identify T. gondii proteins that interact with basigin. Toxoplasma-encoded cyclophilins, the protein 14-3-3, and protein disulfide isomerase (TgPDI) were among the putative basigin-ligands identified. Recombinant TgPDI produced in E. coli bound to basigin and pretreatment of tachyzoites with a PDI inhibitor decreased parasite attachment to host cells. Finally, mutagenesis of the active site cysteines of TgPDI abolished enzyme binding to basigin. Thus, basigin and its related immunoglobulin family members may represent host receptors that mediate attachment of T. gondii to diverse cell types.
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31
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Tryptophan C-mannosylation is critical for Plasmodium falciparum transmission. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4400. [PMID: 35906227 PMCID: PMC9338275 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan C-mannosylation stabilizes proteins bearing a thrombospondin repeat (TSR) domain in metazoans. Here we show that Plasmodium falciparum expresses a DPY19 tryptophan C-mannosyltransferase in the endoplasmic reticulum and that DPY19-deficiency abolishes C-glycosylation, destabilizes members of the TRAP adhesin family and inhibits transmission to mosquitoes. Imaging P. falciparum gametogenesis in its entirety in four dimensions using lattice light-sheet microscopy reveals defects in ΔDPY19 gametocyte egress and exflagellation. While egress is diminished, ΔDPY19 microgametes still fertilize macrogametes, forming ookinetes, but these are abrogated for mosquito infection. The gametogenesis defects correspond with destabilization of MTRAP, which we show is C-mannosylated in P. falciparum, and the ookinete defect is concordant with defective CTRP secretion on the ΔDPY19 background. Genetic complementation of DPY19 restores ookinete infectivity, sporozoite production and C-mannosylation activity. Therefore, tryptophan C-mannosylation by DPY19 ensures TSR protein quality control at two lifecycle stages for successful transmission of the human malaria parasite. Here, Lopaticki et al. show that Plasmodium falciparum expresses a Dpy19 C-mannosyltransferase in the endoplasmic reticulum that glycosylates TSR domains. Functional characterization shows that PfDpy19 plays a critical role in transmission through mosquitoes as PfDpy19-deficiency abolishes C-glycosylation and destabilizes proteins relevant for gametogenesis and oocyst formation.
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32
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Lyons FMT, Gabriela M, Tham WH, Dietrich MH. Plasmodium 6-Cysteine Proteins: Functional Diversity, Transmission-Blocking Antibodies and Structural Scaffolds. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:945924. [PMID: 35899047 PMCID: PMC9309271 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.945924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The 6-cysteine protein family is one of the most abundant surface antigens that are expressed throughout the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle. Many members of the 6-cysteine family have critical roles in parasite development across the life cycle in parasite transmission, evasion of the host immune response and host cell invasion. The common feature of the family is the 6-cysteine domain, also referred to as s48/45 domain, which is conserved across Aconoidasida. This review summarizes the current approaches for recombinant expression for 6-cysteine proteins, monoclonal antibodies against 6-cysteine proteins that block transmission and the growing collection of crystal structures that provide insights into the functional domains of this protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frankie M. T. Lyons
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melanie H. Dietrich
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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33
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Kehrer J, Formaglio P, Muthinja JM, Weber S, Baltissen D, Lance C, Ripp J, Grech J, Meissner M, Funaya C, Amino R, Frischknecht F. Plasmodium
sporozoite disintegration during skin passage limits malaria parasite transmission. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54719. [PMID: 35403820 PMCID: PMC9253755 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202254719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During transmission of malaria‐causing parasites from mosquitoes to mammals, Plasmodium sporozoites migrate rapidly in the skin to search for a blood vessel. The high migratory speed and narrow passages taken by the parasites suggest considerable strain on the sporozoites to maintain their shape. Here, we show that the membrane‐associated protein, concavin, is important for the maintenance of the Plasmodium sporozoite shape inside salivary glands of mosquitoes and during migration in the skin. Concavin‐GFP localizes at the cytoplasmic periphery and concavin(−) sporozoites progressively round up upon entry of salivary glands. Rounded concavin(−) sporozoites fail to pass through the narrow salivary ducts and are rarely ejected by mosquitoes, while normally shaped concavin(−) sporozoites are transmitted. Strikingly, motile concavin(−) sporozoites disintegrate while migrating through the skin leading to parasite arrest or death and decreased transmission efficiency. Collectively, we suggest that concavin contributes to cell shape maintenance by riveting the plasma membrane to the subtending inner membrane complex. Interfering with cell shape maintenance pathways might hence provide a new strategy to prevent a malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
- Infectious Diseases Imaging Platform Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Pauline Formaglio
- Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Julianne Mendi Muthinja
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Sebastian Weber
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
| | - Danny Baltissen
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Christopher Lance
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Johanna Ripp
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
| | - Janessa Grech
- Experimental Parasitology Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Markus Meissner
- Experimental Parasitology Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Charlotta Funaya
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology Center for Infectious Diseases Heidelberg University Medical School Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
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34
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Shao J. Labeling Strategies for Surface-Exposed Protein Visualization and Determination in Plasmodium falciparum Malaria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:914297. [PMID: 35755836 PMCID: PMC9226428 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.914297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Shao
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
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35
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Wunderlich J. Updated List of Transport Proteins in Plasmodium falciparum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:926541. [PMID: 35811673 PMCID: PMC9263188 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.926541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a leading cause of death and disease in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Due to the alarming spread of resistance to almost all available antimalarial drugs, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. As the intracellular human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum depends entirely on the host to meet its nutrient requirements and the majority of its transmembrane transporters are essential and lack human orthologs, these have often been suggested as potential targets of novel antimalarial drugs. However, membrane proteins are less amenable to proteomic tools compared to soluble parasite proteins, and have thus not been characterised as well. While it had been proposed that P. falciparum had a lower number of transporters (2.5% of its predicted proteome) in comparison to most reference genomes, manual curation of information from various sources led to the identification of 197 known and putative transporter genes, representing almost 4% of all parasite genes, a proportion that is comparable to well-studied metazoan species. This transporter list presented here was compiled by collating data from several databases along with extensive literature searches, and includes parasite-encoded membrane-resident/associated channels, carriers, and pumps that are located within the parasite or exported to the host cell. It provides updated information on the substrates, subcellular localisation, class, predicted essentiality, and the presence or absence of human orthologs of P. falciparum transporters to quickly identify essential proteins without human orthologs for further functional characterisation and potential exploitation as novel drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Wunderlich
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Juliane Wunderlich,
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36
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Goodswen SJ, Kennedy PJ, Ellis JT. Compilation of parasitic immunogenic proteins from 30 years of published research using machine learning and natural language processing. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10349. [PMID: 35725870 PMCID: PMC9208253 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13790-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organisation reported in 2020 that six of the top 10 sources of death in low-income countries are parasites. Parasites are microorganisms in a relationship with a larger organism, the host. They acquire all benefits at the host’s expense. A disease develops if the parasitic infection disrupts normal functioning of the host. This disruption can range from mild to severe, including death. Humans and livestock continue to be challenged by established and emerging infectious disease threats. Vaccination is the most efficient tool for preventing current and future threats. Immunogenic proteins sourced from the disease-causing parasite are worthwhile vaccine components (subunits) due to reliable safety and manufacturing capacity. Publications with ‘subunit vaccine’ in their title have accumulated to thousands over the last three decades. However, there are possibly thousands more reporting immunogenicity results without mentioning ‘subunit’ and/or ‘vaccine’. The exact number is unclear given the non-standardised keywords in publications. The study aim is to identify parasite proteins that induce a protective response in an animal model as reported in the scientific literature within the last 30 years using machine learning and natural language processing. Source code to fulfil this aim and the vaccine candidate list obtained is made available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Goodswen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Paul J Kennedy
- School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - John T Ellis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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37
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Srivastava PN, Nayak B, Dewaker V, Mishra S. C-Mannosyltransferase Is Essential for Malaria Transmission in Plasmodium berghei. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1116-1123. [PMID: 35594144 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
C-Mannosylation of the thrombospondin type I repeat (TSR) domains is one of the most important factors involved in their function. It occurs on the first tryptophan of the WXXWXXC conserved motif where the tryptophan is usually surrounded by arginine or lysine forming the ligand-binding stretch of this sticky domain. It is found in its canonical or modified forms in many Plasmodium proteins. TSR containing proteins such as thrombospondin-like anonymous protein (TRAP), circumsporozoite protein (CSP), CSP and TRAP related protein (CTRP), and secreted protein with altered thrombospondin repeat (SPATR) have all been shown to be important for various parasite processes and life cycle stages. Here, we show that C-mannosylation catalyzing enzyme C-mannosyltransferase (CmanT) plays an essential role in malaria transmission in Plasmodium berghei. Disruption of the CmanT does not affect asexual blood stage propagation or gametocyte development but abolishes the formation of oocysts in mosquitoes. CmanT knockout (CmanT-) parasites showed normal ookinete formation; however, these ookinetes failed in their ability to glide. CmanT- was complemented by reintroducing the gene, restoring mosquito transmission to wild-type level. We also investigated the effect of C-mannosylation on the folding and heparin-binding capacity of the Plasmodium falciparum TRAP TSR domain in silico, which suggested that this phenotype should be due to its involvement in the global stabilization of TSR residue side chain interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Narain Srivastava
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Bandita Nayak
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Varun Dewaker
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Satish Mishra
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad 201002, India
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38
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Wilder BK, Vigdorovich V, Carbonetti S, Minkah N, Hertoghs N, Raappana A, Cardamone H, Oliver BG, Trakhimets O, Kumar S, Dambrauskas N, Arredondo SA, Camargo N, Seilie AM, Murphy SC, Kappe SHI, Sather DN. Anti-TRAP/SSP2 monoclonal antibodies can inhibit sporozoite infection and may enhance protection of anti-CSP monoclonal antibodies. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:58. [PMID: 35618791 PMCID: PMC9135708 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00480-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine-induced sterilizing protection from infection by Plasmodium parasites, the pathogens that cause malaria, will be essential in the fight against malaria as it would prevent both malaria-related disease and transmission. Stopping the relatively small number of parasites injected by the mosquito before they can migrate from the skin to the liver is an attractive means to this goal. Antibody-eliciting vaccines have been used to pursue this objective by targeting the major parasite surface protein present during this stage, the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). While CSP-based vaccines have recently had encouraging success in disease reduction, this was only achieved with extremely high antibody titers and appeared less effective for a complete block of infection (i.e., sterile protection). While such disease reduction is important, these and other results indicate that strategies focusing on CSP alone may not achieve the high levels of sterile protection needed for malaria eradication. Here, we show that monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing another sporozoite protein, TRAP/SSP2, exhibit a range of inhibitory activity and that these mAbs may augment CSP-based protection despite conferring no sterile protection on their own. Therefore, pursuing a multivalent subunit vaccine immunization is a promising strategy for improving infection-blocking malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon K Wilder
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Vladimir Vigdorovich
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sara Carbonetti
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nana Minkah
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nina Hertoghs
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew Raappana
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hayley Cardamone
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian G Oliver
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Olesya Trakhimets
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicholas Dambrauskas
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Silvia A Arredondo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nelly Camargo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annette M Seilie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sean C Murphy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - D Noah Sather
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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39
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Paoletta MS, Wilkowsky SE. Thrombospondin Related Anonymous Protein Superfamily in Vector-Borne Apicomplexans: The Parasite’s Toolkit for Cell Invasion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:831592. [PMID: 35463644 PMCID: PMC9019593 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.831592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites transmitted by vectors, including Babesia spp. and Plasmodium spp., cause severe disease in both humans and animals. These parasites have a complex life cycle during which they migrate, invade, and replicate in contrasting hosts such as the mammal and the invertebrate vector. The interaction of parasites with the host cell is mediated by adhesive proteins which play a key role in the different cellular processes regarding successful progression of the life cycle. Thrombospondin related anonymous protein (TRAP) is a superfamily of adhesins that are involved in motility, invasion and egress of the parasite. These proteins are stored and released from apical organelles and have either one or two types of adhesive domains, namely thrombospondin type 1 repeat and von Willebrand factor type A, that upon secretion are located in the extracellular portion of the molecule. Proteins from the TRAP superfamily have been intensively studied in Plasmodium species and to a lesser extent in Babesia spp., where they have proven to be functionally relevant throughout the entire parasite’s journey both in the arthropod vector and in the mammalian host. In recent years new findings provided answers to the role of TRAP proteins and in some cases the function of these adhesins during the parasite’s life cycle was redefined. In this review we will discuss the current knowledge of the diverse roles of the TRAP superfamily in vector-borne parasites from Class Aconoidasida. We will focus on the varied approaches that allowed the understanding of protein function and the relevance of TRAP- superfamily throughout the entire parasite’s cell cycle.
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40
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Singh D, Patri S, Narahari V, Segireddy RR, Dey S, Saurabh A, Macha V, Prabhu NP, Srivastava A, Kolli SK, Kota AK. A Conserved Plasmodium Structural Integrity Maintenance Protein (SIMP) is associated with sporozoite membrane and is essential for maintaining shape and infectivity. Mol Microbiol 2022; 117:1324-1339. [PMID: 35301756 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites are extracellular forms introduced during mosquito bite that selectively invade mammalian hepatocytes. Sporozoites are delimited by a cell membrane that is linked to the underlying acto-myosin molecular motor. While membrane proteins with roles in motility and invasion have been well studied, very little is known about proteins that maintain the sporozoite shape. We demonstrate that in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) a conserved hypothetical gene, PBANKA_1422900 specifies sporozoite structural integrity maintenance protein (SIMP) required for maintaining the sporozoite shape and motility. Sporozoites lacking SIMP exhibited loss of regular shape, extensive membrane blebbing at multiple foci and membrane detachment. The mutant sporozoites failed to infect hepatocytes, though the altered shape did not affect the organisation of cytoskeleton or inner membrane complex (IMC). Interestingly, the components of IMC failed to extend under the membrane blebs likely suggesting that SIMP may assist in anchoring the membrane to IMC. Endogenous C-terminal HA tagging localized SIMP to membrane and revealed the C-terminus of the protein to be extracellular. Since SIMP is highly conserved amongst Plasmodium species, these findings have important implications for utilising it as a novel sporozoite specific vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipti Singh
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Smita Patri
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Veeda Narahari
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Rameswara R Segireddy
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Sandeep Dey
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Archi Saurabh
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Vijay Macha
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500032, India
| | - N Prakash Prabhu
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Anand Srivastava
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500032, India
| | - Surendra Kumar Kolli
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Arun Kumar Kota
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
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41
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Fabra-García A, Yang AS, Behet MC, Yap XZ, van Waardenburg Y, Kaviraj S, Lanke K, van Gemert GJ, Jore MM, Bousema T, Sauerwein RW. Human antibodies against non-circumsporozoite proteins block Plasmodium falciparum parasite development in hepatocytes. JCI Insight 2022; 7:153524. [PMID: 35167490 PMCID: PMC8986077 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.153524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporozoite-based approaches currently represent the most effective vaccine strategies for induction of sterile protection against Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria. Clinical development of subunit vaccines is almost exclusively centered on the circum-sporozoite protein (CSP), an abundantly expressed protein on the sporozoite membrane. Anti-CSP antibodies are able to block sporozoite invasion and development in human hepatocytes and subsequently prevent clinical malaria. Here, we have investigated whether sporozoite-induced human antibodies with specificities different from CSP can reduce Pf-liver stage development. IgG preparations were obtained from 12 volunteers inoculated with a protective immunization regime of whole sporozoites under chloroquine prophylaxis. These IgGs were depleted for CSP specificity by affinity chromatography. Recovered non-CSP antibodies were tested for sporozoite membrane binding and for functional inhibition of sporozoite invasion of a human hepatoma cell line and hepatocytes both in vitro and in vivo. Postimmunization IgGs depleted for CS specificity of 9 of 12 donors recognized sporozoite surface antigens. Samples from 5 of 12 donors functionally reduced parasite-liver cell invasion or development using the hepatoma cell line HC-04 and FRG-huHep mice containing human liver cells. The combined data provide clear evidence that non-CSP proteins, as yet undefined, do represent antibody targets for functional immunity against Pf parasites responsible for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Fabra-García
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Annie Sp Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Marije C Behet
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Xi Zen Yap
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Youri van Waardenburg
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Kjerstin Lanke
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Geert-Jan van Gemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Matthijs M Jore
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Teun Bousema
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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42
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Fenollar À, Ros-Lucas A, Pía Alberione M, Martínez-Peinado N, Ramírez M, Ángel Rosales-Motos M, Y. Lee L, Alonso-Padilla J, Izquierdo L. Compounds targeting GPI biosynthesis or N-glycosylation are active against Plasmodium falciparum. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:850-863. [PMID: 35222844 PMCID: PMC8841962 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Compounds targeting key steps in GPI biosynthesis abrogate P. falciparum growth. N-glycosylation disruption halts parasite development and induces delayed death. Tunicamycin-induced delayed death is not linked with the synthesis of isoprenoids. In summary, two metabolic pathways are outlined for further drug target exploration.
The emergence of resistance to first-line antimalarials, including artemisinin, the last effective malaria therapy in some regions, stresses the urgent need to develop new effective treatments against this disease. The identification and validation of metabolic pathways that could be targeted for drug development may strongly contribute to accelerate this process. In this study, we use fully characterized specific inhibitors targeting glycan biosynthetic pathways as research tools to analyze their effects on the growth of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and to validate these metabolic routes as feasible chemotherapeutic targets. Through docking simulations using models predicted by AlphaFold, we also shed new light into the modes of action of some of these inhibitors. Molecules inhibiting N-acetylglucosaminyl-phosphatidylinositol de-N-acetylase (GlcNAc-PI de-N-acetylase, PIGL/GPI12) or the inositol acyltransferase (GWT1), central for glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis, halt the growth of intraerythrocytic asexual parasites during the trophozoite stages of the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC). Remarkably, the nucleoside antibiotic tunicamycin, which targets UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:dolichyl-phosphate N-acetylglucosaminephosphotransferase (ALG7) and N-glycosylation in other organisms, induces a delayed-death effect and inhibits parasite growth during the second IDC after treatment. Our data indicate that tunicamycin induces a specific inhibitory effect, hinting to a more substantial role of the N-glycosylation pathway in P. falciparum intraerythrocytic asexual stages than previously thought. To sum up, our results place GPI biosynthesis and N-glycosylation pathways as metabolic routes with potential to yield much-needed therapeutic targets against the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Àngel Fenollar
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Pía Alberione
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nieves Martínez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Ramírez
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Rosales-Motos
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ling Y. Lee
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
- Corresponding author at: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
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43
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Feng J, Dong X, DeCosta A, Su Y, Angrisano F, Sala KA, Blagborough AM, Lu C, Springer TA. Structural basis of malaria transmission blockade by a monoclonal antibody to gamete fusogen HAP2. eLife 2021; 10:74707. [PMID: 34939934 PMCID: PMC8806182 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HAP2 is a transmembrane gamete fusogen found in multiple eukaryotic kingdoms and is structurally homologous to viral class II fusogens. Studies in Plasmodium have suggested that HAP2 is an attractive target for vaccines that block transmission of malaria. HAP2 has three extracellular domains, arranged in the order D2, D1, and D3. Here, we report monoclonal antibodies against the D3 fragment of Plasmodium berghei HAP2 and crystal structures of D3 in complex with Fab fragments of two of these antibodies, one of which blocks fertilization of Plasmodium berghei in vitro and transmission of malaria in mosquitoes. We also show how this Fab binds the complete HAP2 ectodomain with electron microscopy. The two antibodies cross-react with HAP2 among multiple plasmodial species. Our characterization of the Plasmodium D3 structure, HAP2 ectodomain architecture, and mechanism of inhibition provide insights for the development of a vaccine to block malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Feng
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
| | | | - Adam DeCosta
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
| | - Yang Su
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
| | | | | | | | - Chafen Lu
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
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44
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Opi DH, Kurtovic L, Chan JA, Horton JL, Feng G, Beeson JG. Multi-functional antibody profiling for malaria vaccine development and evaluation. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:1257-1272. [PMID: 34530671 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1981864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A vaccine would greatly accelerate current global efforts toward malaria elimination. While a partially efficacious vaccine has been achieved for Plasmodium falciparum, a major bottleneck in developing highly efficacious vaccines is a lack of reliable correlates of protection, and the limited application of assays that quantify functional immune responses to evaluate and down-select vaccine candidates in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. AREAS COVERED In this review, we describe the important role of antibodies in immunity against malaria and detail the nature and functional activities of antibodies against the malaria-causing parasite. We highlight the growing understanding of antibody effector functions against malaria and in vitro assays to measure these functional antibody responses. We discuss the application of these assays to quantify antibody functions in vaccine development and evaluation. EXPERT OPINION It is becoming increasingly clear that multiple antibody effector functions are involved in immunity to malaria. Therefore, we propose that evaluating vaccine candidates needs to move beyond individual assays or measuring IgG magnitude alone. Instead, vaccine evaluation should incorporate the full breadth of antibody response types and harness a wider range of assays measuring functional antibody responses. We propose a 3-tier approach to implementing assays to inform vaccine evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Herbert Opi
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Liriye Kurtovic
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jo-Anne Chan
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jessica L Horton
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gaoqian Feng
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James G Beeson
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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45
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Minakata S, Manabe S, Inai Y, Ikezaki M, Nishitsuji K, Ito Y, Ihara Y. Protein C-Mannosylation and C-Mannosyl Tryptophan in Chemical Biology and Medicine. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175258. [PMID: 34500691 PMCID: PMC8433626 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
C-Mannosylation is a post-translational modification of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Monomeric α-mannose is attached to specific Trp residues at the first Trp in the Trp-x-x-Trp/Cys (W-x-x-W/C) motif of substrate proteins, by the action of C-mannosyltransferases, DPY19-related gene products. The acceptor substrate proteins are included in the thrombospondin type I repeat (TSR) superfamily, cytokine receptor type I family, and others. Previous studies demonstrated that C-mannosylation plays critical roles in the folding, sorting, and/or secretion of substrate proteins. A C-mannosylation-defective gene mutation was identified in humans as the disease-associated variant affecting a C-mannosylation motif of W-x-x-W of ADAMTSL1, which suggests the involvement of defects in protein C-mannosylation in human diseases such as developmental glaucoma, myopia, and/or retinal defects. On the other hand, monomeric C-mannosyl Trp (C-Man-Trp), a deduced degradation product of C-mannosylated proteins, occurs in cells and extracellular fluids. Several studies showed that the level of C-Man-Trp is upregulated in blood of patients with renal dysfunction, suggesting that the metabolism of C-Man-Trp may be involved in human kidney diseases. Together, protein C-mannosylation is considered to play important roles in the biosynthesis and functions of substrate proteins, and the altered regulation of protein C-manosylation may be involved in the pathophysiology of human diseases. In this review, we consider the biochemical and biomedical knowledge of protein C-mannosylation and C-Man-Trp, and introduce recent studies concerning their significance in biology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Minakata
- Department of Biochemistry, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan; (S.M.); (Y.I.); (M.I.); (K.N.)
| | - Shino Manabe
- Pharmaceutical Department, The Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan;
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Development, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science & Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yoko Inai
- Department of Biochemistry, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan; (S.M.); (Y.I.); (M.I.); (K.N.)
| | - Midori Ikezaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan; (S.M.); (Y.I.); (M.I.); (K.N.)
| | - Kazuchika Nishitsuji
- Department of Biochemistry, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan; (S.M.); (Y.I.); (M.I.); (K.N.)
| | - Yukishige Ito
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan;
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yoshito Ihara
- Department of Biochemistry, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan; (S.M.); (Y.I.); (M.I.); (K.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-73-441-0628
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46
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Poole J, Hartley-Tassell LE, Day CJ, Stanisic DI, Groves PL, Chakravarty S, Lee Sim BK, Hoffman SL, Tiralongo J, Bovin N, Doolan DL, Jennings MP. Identification of the Glycan Binding Profile of Human and Rodent Plasmodium Sporozoites. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2383-2389. [PMID: 34170120 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The transmission of Plasmodium spp. sporozoites to the mammalian host is the first step in the initiation of the mosquito-borne disease known as malaria. The exact route of transmission from the bloodstream to the liver is still not clearly elucidated, and identification of the host glycan structures bound by the sporozoites may inform as to which host cells are involved. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the glycan structures that sporozoites from the human pathogen, P. falciparum, and the rodent pathogen, P. yoelii, recognize and bind. Glycan array analysis was used to profile the glycans bound by the sporozoites, and the binding affinities of these sporozoite-glycan interactions were then determined by surface plasmon resonance. Data showed that the different Plasmodium spp. bind different classes of glycans. P. falciparum was observed to bind to glycans with terminal N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) or Galactose (Gal) linked to a GalNAc, and the highest-affinity observed was with the GalNAc monosaccharide (12.5 nM). P. yoelii bound glycosaminoglycans, mannosyl glycans, Gal linked to N-acetylglucosamine structures, and the αGal epitope. The highest-affinity interaction for P. yoelii was with the αGal epitope (31.4 nM). This is the first study to identify the key host glycan structures recognized by human and rodent Plasmodium spp. sporozoites. An understanding of how Plasmodium sporozoites interact with the specific glycan structures identified here may provide further insight into this infectious disease that could help direct the design of an effective therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Poole
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport 4222, Queensland Australia
| | | | - Christopher J. Day
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport 4222, Queensland Australia
| | - Danielle I. Stanisic
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport 4222, Queensland Australia
| | - Penny L. Groves
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston 4029, Queensland Australia
| | | | - B. Kim Lee Sim
- Sanaria Inc, Rockville, Maryland 20852, United States of America
| | | | - Joe Tiralongo
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport 4222, Queensland Australia
| | - Nicolai Bovin
- Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Denise L. Doolan
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns 4878, Queensland Australia
| | - Michael P. Jennings
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport 4222, Queensland Australia
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47
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Vijayan K, Visweswaran GRR, Chandrasekaran R, Trakhimets O, Brown SL, Watson A, Zuck M, Dambrauskas N, Raappana A, Carbonetti S, Kelnhofer-Millevolte L, Glennon EKK, Postiglione R, Sather DN, Kaushansky A. Antibody interference by a non-neutralizing antibody abrogates humoral protection against Plasmodium yoelii liver stage. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109489. [PMID: 34348141 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Both subunit and attenuated whole-sporozoite vaccination strategies against Plasmodium infection have shown promising initial results in malaria-naive westerners but less efficacy in malaria-exposed individuals in endemic areas. Here, we demonstrate proof of concept by using a rodent malaria model in which non-neutralizing antibodies (nNAbs) can directly interfere with protective anti-circumsporozoite protein (CSP) humoral responses. We characterize a monoclonal antibody, RAM1, against Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite major surface antigen CSP. Unlike the canonical PyCSP repeat domain binding and neutralizing antibody (NAb) 2F6, RAM1 does not inhibit sporozoite traversal or entry of hepatocytes in vitro or infection in vivo. Although 2F6 and RAM1 bind non-overlapping regions of the CSP-repeat domain, pre-treatment with RAM1 abrogates the capacity of NAb to block sporozoite traversal and invasion in vitro. Importantly, RAM1 reduces the efficacy of the polyclonal humoral response against PyCSP in vivo. Collectively, our data provide a proof of concept that nNAbs can alter the efficacy of malaria vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Meghan Zuck
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - D Noah Sather
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Brotman Baty Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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48
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Goerdeler F, Seeberger PH, Moscovitz O. Unveiling the Sugary Secrets of Plasmodium Parasites. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:712538. [PMID: 34335547 PMCID: PMC8322443 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.712538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria disease, one of the leading global health burdens for humanity, infecting hundreds of millions of people each year. Different glycans on the parasite and the host cell surface play significant roles in both malaria pathogenesis and host defense mechanisms. So far, only small, truncated N- and O-glycans have been identified in Plasmodium species. In contrast, complex glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycolipids are highly abundant on the parasite’s cell membrane and are essential for its survival. Moreover, the parasites express lectins that bind and exploit the host cell surface glycans for different aspects of the parasite life cycle, such as adherence, invasion, and evasion of the host immune system. In parallel, the host cell glycocalyx and lectin expression serve as the first line of defense against Plasmodium parasites and directly dictate susceptibility to Plasmodium infection. This review provides an overview of the glycobiology involved in Plasmodium-host interactions and its contribution to malaria pathogenesis. Recent findings are presented and evaluated in the context of potential therapeutic exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Goerdeler
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter H Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oren Moscovitz
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
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Kolli SK, Salman AM, Ramesar J, Chevalley-Maurel S, Kroeze H, Geurten FGA, Miyazaki S, Mukhopadhyay E, Marin-Mogollon C, Franke-Fayard B, Hill AVS, Janse CJ. Screening of viral-vectored P. falciparum pre-erythrocytic candidate vaccine antigens using chimeric rodent parasites. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254498. [PMID: 34252120 PMCID: PMC8274855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To screen for additional vaccine candidate antigens of Plasmodium pre-erythrocytic stages, fourteen P. falciparum proteins were selected based on expression in sporozoites or their role in establishment of hepatocyte infection. For preclinical evaluation of immunogenicity of these proteins in mice, chimeric P. berghei sporozoites were created that express the P. falciparum proteins in sporozoites as an additional copy gene under control of the uis4 gene promoter. All fourteen chimeric parasites produced sporozoites but sporozoites of eight lines failed to establish a liver infection, indicating a negative impact of these P. falciparum proteins on sporozoite infectivity. Immunogenicity of the other six proteins (SPELD, ETRAMP10.3, SIAP2, SPATR, HT, RPL3) was analyzed by immunization of inbred BALB/c and outbred CD-1 mice with viral-vectored (ChAd63 or ChAdOx1, MVA) vaccines, followed by challenge with chimeric sporozoites. Protective immunogenicity was determined by analyzing parasite liver load and prepatent period of blood stage infection after challenge. Of the six proteins only SPELD immunized mice showed partial protection. We discuss both the low protective immunogenicity of these proteins in the chimeric rodent malaria challenge model and the negative effect on P. berghei sporozoite infectivity of several P. falciparum proteins expressed in the chimeric sporozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra Kumar Kolli
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ahmed M. Salman
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jai Ramesar
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Hans Kroeze
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Fiona G. A. Geurten
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Shinya Miyazaki
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ekta Mukhopadhyay
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Adrian V. S. Hill
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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Ojha R, Prajapati VK. Cognizance of posttranslational modifications in vaccines: A way to enhanced immunogenicity. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:8020-8034. [PMID: 34170014 PMCID: PMC8427110 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination is a significant advancement or preventative strategy for controlling the spread of various severe infectious and noninfectious diseases. The purpose of vaccination is to stimulate or activate the immune system by injecting antigens, i.e., either whole microorganisms or using the pathogen's antigenic part or macromolecules. Over time, researchers have made tremendous efforts to reduce vaccine side effects or failure by developing different strategies combining with immunoinformatic and molecular biology. These newly designed vaccines are composed of single or several antigenic molecules derived from a pathogenic organism. Although, whole‐cell vaccines are still in use against various diseases but due to their ineffectiveness, other vaccines like DNA‐based, RNA‐based, and protein‐based vaccines, with the addition of immunostimulatory agents, are in the limelight. Despite this, many researchers escape the most common fundamental phenomenon of protein posttranslational modifications during the development of vaccines, which regulates protein functional behavior, evokes immunogenicity and stability, etc. The negligence about post translational modification (PTM) during vaccine development may affect the vaccine's efficacy and immune responses. Therefore, it becomes imperative to consider these modifications of macromolecules before finalizing the antigenic vaccine construct. Here, we have discussed different types of posttranslational/transcriptional modifications that are usually considered during vaccine construct designing: Glycosylation, Acetylation, Sulfation, Methylation, Amidation, SUMOylation, Ubiquitylation, Lipidation, Formylation, and Phosphorylation. Based on the available research information, we firmly believe that considering these modifications will generate a potential and highly immunogenic antigenic molecule against communicable and noncommunicable diseases compared to the unmodified macromolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupal Ojha
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
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