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Hernández-Zambrano LJ, Alfonso-González H, Buitrago SP, Castro-Cavadía CJ, Garzón-Ospina D. Exploring the genetic diversity pattern of PvEBP/DBP2: A promising candidate for an effective Plasmodium vivax vaccine. Acta Trop 2024; 255:107231. [PMID: 38685340 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains a public health challenge. Since many control strategies have proven ineffective in eradicating this disease, new strategies are required, among which the design of a multivalent vaccine stands out. However, the effectiveness of this strategy has been hindered, among other reasons, by the genetic diversity observed in parasite antigens. In Plasmodium vivax, the Erythrocyte Binding Protein (PvEBP, also known as DBP2) is an alternate ligand to Duffy Binding Protein (DBP); given its structural resemblance to DBP, EBP/DBP2 is proposed as a promising antigen for inclusion in vaccine design. However, the extent of genetic diversity within the locus encoding this protein has not been comprehensively assessed. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity of the locus encoding the P. vivax EBP/DBP2 protein and to determine the evolutionary mechanisms modulating this diversity. Several intrapopulation genetic variation parameters were estimated using 36 gene sequences of PvEBP/DBP2 from Colombian P. vivax clinical isolates and 186 sequences available in databases. The study then evaluated the worldwide genetic structure and the evolutionary forces that may influence the observed patterns of genetic variation. It was found that the PvEBP/DBP2 gene exhibits one of the lowest levels of genetic diversity compared to other vaccine-candidate antigens. Four major haplotypes were shared worldwide. Analysis of the protein's 3D structure and epitope prediction identified five regions with potential antigenic properties. The results suggest that the PvEBP/DBP2 protein possesses ideal characteristics to be considered when designing a multivalent effective antimalarial vaccine against P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Hernández-Zambrano
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Heliairis Alfonso-González
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Sindy P Buitrago
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Carlos J Castro-Cavadía
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba (GIMBIC), School of Health Sciences, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia.
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Plata-Pineda SE, Cárdenas-Munévar LX, Castro-Cavadía CJ, Buitrago SP, Garzón-Ospina D. Evaluating the genetic diversity of the Plasmodium vivax siap2 locus: A promising candidate for an effective malaria vaccine? Acta Trop 2024; 251:107111. [PMID: 38151069 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is the deadliest parasitic disease in the world. Traditional control measures have become less effective; hence, there is a need to explore alternative strategies, such as antimalarial vaccines. However, designing an anti-Plasmodium vivax vaccine is considered a challenge due to the complex parasite biology and the antigens' high genetic diversity. Recently, the sporozoite invasion-associated protein 2 (SIAP2) has been suggested as a potential antigen to be considered in vaccine design due to its significance during hepatocyte invasion. However, its use may be limited by the incomplete understanding of gene/protein diversity. Here, the genetic diversity of pvsiap2 using P. vivax DNA samples from Colombia was assessed. Through PCR amplification and sequencing, we compared the Colombian sequences with available worldwide sequences, revealing that pvsiap2 displays low genetic diversity. Molecular evolutionary analyses showed that pvsiap2 appears to be influenced by directional selection. Moreover, the haplotypes found differ by a few mutational steps and several of them were shared between different geographical areas. On the other hand, several conserved regions within PvSIAP2 were predicted as potential B-cell or T-cell epitopes. Considering these characteristics and its role in hepatocyte invasion, the PvSIAP2 protein emerges as a promising antigen to be considered in a multi-antigen-multi-stage (multivalent) fully effective vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Plata-Pineda
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Laura X Cárdenas-Munévar
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Carlos J Castro-Cavadía
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas y Biomédicas de Córdoba (GIMBIC), School of Health Sciences, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Sindy P Buitrago
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- School of Biological Sciences, Grupo de Estudios en Genética y Biología Molecular (GEBIMOL), Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia - UPTC, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia; Population Genetics And Molecular Evolution (PGAME), Fundación Scient, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia.
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Ntumngia FB, Kolli SK, Annamalai Subramani P, Barnes SJ, Nicholas J, Ogbondah MM, Barnes BB, Salinas ND, Thawornpan P, Tolia NH, Chootong P, Adams JH. Naturally acquired antibodies against Plasmodium vivax pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine antigens inhibit sporozoite invasion of human hepatocytes in vitro. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1260. [PMID: 38218737 PMCID: PMC10787766 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51820-2] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In Plasmodium vivax, the most studied vaccine antigens are aimed at blocking merozoite invasion of erythrocytes and disease development. Very few studies have evaluated pre-erythrocytic (PE) stage antigens. The P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP), is considered the leading PE vaccine candidate, but immunity to CSP is short-lived and variant specific. Thus, there is a need to identify other potential candidates to partner with CSP in a multivalent vaccine to protect against infection and disease. We hypothesize that sporozoite antigens important for host cell infection are considered potential targets. In this study, we evaluated the magnitude and quality of naturally acquired antibody responses to four P. vivax PE antigens: sporozoite surface protein 3 (SSP3), sporozoite protein essential for traversal 1 (SPECT1), cell traversal protein of ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS) and CSP in plasma of P. vivax infected patients from Thailand. Naturally acquired antibodies to these antigens were prevalent in the study subjects, but with significant differences in magnitude of IgG antibody responses. About 80% of study participants had antibodies to all four antigens and only 2% did not have antibodies to any of the antigens. Most importantly, these antibodies inhibited sporozoite infection of hepatocytes in vitro. Significant variations in magnitude of antigen-specific inhibitory antibody responses were observed with individual samples. The highest inhibitory responses were observed with anti-CelTOS antibodies, followed by anti-SPECT1, SSP3 and CSP antibodies respectively. These data highlight the vaccine potential of these antigens in protecting against hepatocyte infection and the need for a multi-valent pre-erythrocytic vaccine to prevent liver stage development of P. vivax sporozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Babila Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Surendra Kumar Kolli
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Samantha J Barnes
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Justin Nicholas
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Madison M Ogbondah
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Brian B Barnes
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Nichole D Salinas
- Host Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pongsakorn Thawornpan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Host Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patchanee Chootong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Ahmed MA, Baruah P, Saif A, Han JH, Al-Zharani M, Wazid SW, Alkahtani S, Patgiri SJ, Al-Eissa MS, Quan FS. In Silico Analysis Reveals High Levels of Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium knowlesi Cell Traversal Protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites ( PkCelTOS) in Clinical Samples. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:380. [PMID: 37624318 PMCID: PMC10458480 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8080380] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS), expressed on the surface of ookinetes and sporozoitesin Plasmodium species, is a promising malaria vaccine candidate. CelTOS is essential for parasite invasion into mosquito midgut and human hepatocytes, thereby contributing to malaria transmission and disease pathogenesis. This study explores the genetic diversity, polymorphisms, haplotypes, natural selection, phylogenetic analysis, and epitope prediction in the full-length Plasmodium knowlesi CelTOS gene in clinical samples from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and long-term laboratory strains from Peninsular Malaysia and the Philippines. Our analysis revealed a high level of genetic variation in the PkCelTOS gene, with a nucleotide diversity of π ~ 0.021, which was skewed towards the 3' end of the gene. This level of diversity is double that observed in PfCelTOS and 20 times that observed in PvCelTOS from worldwide clinical samples. Tests of natural selection revealed evidence for positive selection within clinical samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequence of PkCelTOS revealed the presence of two distinct groups, although no geographical clustering was observed. Epitope prediction analysis identified two potential epitopes (96AQLKATA102 and 124TIKPPRIKED133) using the IEDB server and one epitope (125IKPPRIKED133) by Bcepred server on the C' terminal region of PkCelTOS protein. Both the servers predicted a common epitope region of nine amino acid length (IKPPRIKED) peptide, which can be studied in the future as a potential candidate for vaccine development. These findings shed light on the genetic diversity, polymorphism, haplotypes, and natural selection within PkCelTOS in clinical samples and provide insights about its future prospects as a potential candidate for P. knowlesi malaria vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Atique Ahmed
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India (S.J.P.)
| | - Pratisthita Baruah
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India (S.J.P.)
| | - Ahmed Saif
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohammed Al-Zharani
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia (M.S.A.-E.)
| | - Syeda Wasfeea Wazid
- Arogyo Society of Health, Welfare and Support (ASHWAS), Guwahati 785640, Assam, India;
| | - Saad Alkahtani
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saurav J. Patgiri
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India (S.J.P.)
| | - Mohammed S. Al-Eissa
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia (M.S.A.-E.)
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, Core Research Institute (CRI), Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
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Matos ADS, Soares IF, Baptista BDO, de Souza HADS, Chaves LB, Perce-da-Silva DDS, Riccio EKP, Albrecht L, Totino PRR, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Pratt-Riccio LR, Lima-Junior JDC. Construction, Expression, and Evaluation of the Naturally Acquired Humoral Immune Response against Plasmodium vivax RMC-1, a Multistage Chimeric Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11571. [PMID: 37511330 PMCID: PMC10380678 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The PvCelTOS, PvCyRPA, and Pvs25 proteins play important roles during the three stages of the P. vivax lifecycle. In this study, we designed and expressed a P. vivax recombinant modular chimeric protein (PvRMC-1) composed of the main antigenic regions of these vaccine candidates. After structure modelling by prediction, the chimeric protein was expressed, and the antigenicity was assessed by IgM and IgG (total and subclass) ELISA in 301 naturally exposed individuals from the Brazilian Amazon. The recombinant protein was recognized by IgG (54%) and IgM (40%) antibodies in the studied individuals, confirming the natural immunogenicity of the epitopes that composed PvRMC-1 as its maintenance in the chimeric structure. Among responders, a predominant cytophilic response mediated by IgG1 (70%) and IgG3 (69%) was observed. IgM levels were inversely correlated with age and time of residence in endemic areas (p < 0.01). By contrast, the IgG and IgM reactivity indexes were positively correlated with each other, and both were inversely correlated with the time of the last malaria episode. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that PvRMC-1 was successfully expressed and targeted by natural antibodies, providing important insights into the construction of a multistage chimeric recombinant protein and the use of naturally acquired antibodies to validate the construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada da Silva Matos
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ferreira Soares
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Barbara de Oliveira Baptista
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Hugo Amorim Dos Santos de Souza
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lana Bitencourt Chaves
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daiana de Souza Perce-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Centro Universitário Arthur Sá Earp Neto/Faculdade de Medicina de Petrópolis (UNIFASE/FMP), Petrópolis 25680-120, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Evelyn Kety Pratt Riccio
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Letusa Albrecht
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil
| | - Paulo Renato Rivas Totino
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nunes Rodrigues-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos (Bio-Manguinhos), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz e Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lilian Rose Pratt-Riccio
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz e Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Josué da Costa Lima-Junior
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
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Transcending Dimensions in Apicomplexan Research: from Two-Dimensional to Three-Dimensional In Vitro Cultures. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0002522. [PMID: 35412359 PMCID: PMC9199416 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00025-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites belonging to the Apicomplexa phylum are among the most successful pathogens known in nature. They can infect a wide range of hosts, often remain undetected by the immune system, and cause acute and chronic illness. In this phylum, we can find parasites of human and veterinary health relevance, such as Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium, and Eimeria. There are still many unknowns about the biology of these pathogens due to the ethical and practical issues of performing research in their natural hosts. Animal models are often difficult or nonexistent, and as a result, there are apicomplexan life cycle stages that have not been studied. One recent alternative has been the use of three-dimensional (3D) systems such as organoids, 3D scaffolds with different matrices, microfluidic devices, organs-on-a-chip, and other tissue culture models. These 3D systems have facilitated and expanded the research of apicomplexans, allowing us to explore life stages that were previously out of reach and experimental procedures that were practically impossible to perform in animal models. Human- and animal-derived 3D systems can be obtained from different organs, allowing us to model host-pathogen interactions for diagnostic methods and vaccine development, drug testing, exploratory biology, and other applications. In this review, we summarize the most recent advances in the use of 3D systems applied to apicomplexans. We show the wide array of strategies that have been successfully used so far and apply them to explore other organisms that have been less studied.
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