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Kong WZ, Zhang HY, Sun YF, Song J, Jiang J, Cui HY, Zhang Y, Han S, Cheng Y. Plasmodium vivax tryptophan-rich antigen reduces type I collagen secretion via the NF-κBp65 pathway in splenic fibroblasts. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:239. [PMID: 38802961 PMCID: PMC11131192 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06264-y] [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: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spleen plays a critical role in the immune response against malaria parasite infection, where splenic fibroblasts (SFs) are abundantly present and contribute to immune function by secreting type I collagen (collagen I). The protein family is characterized by Plasmodium vivax tryptophan-rich antigens (PvTRAgs), comprising 40 members. PvTRAg23 has been reported to bind to human SFs (HSFs) and affect collagen I levels. Given the role of type I collagen in splenic immune function, it is important to investigate the functions of the other members within the PvTRAg protein family. METHODS Protein structural prediction was conducted utilizing bioinformatics analysis tools and software. A total of 23 PvTRAgs were successfully expressed and purified using an Escherichia coli prokaryotic expression system, and the purified proteins were used for co-culture with HSFs. The collagen I levels and collagen-related signaling pathway protein levels were detected by immunoblotting, and the relative expression levels of inflammatory factors were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS In silico analysis showed that P. vivax has 40 genes encoding the TRAg family. The C-terminal region of all PvTRAgs is characterized by the presence of a domain rich in tryptophan residues. A total of 23 recombinant PvTRAgs were successfully expressed and purified. Only five PvTRAgs (PvTRAg5, PvTRAg16, PvTRAg23, PvTRAg30, and PvTRAg32) mediated the activation of the NF-κBp65 signaling pathway, which resulted in the production of inflammatory molecules and ultimately a significant reduction in collagen I levels in HSFs. CONCLUSIONS Our research contributes to the expansion of knowledge regarding the functional role of PvTRAgs, while it also enhances our understanding of the immune evasion mechanisms utilized by parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Zhong Kong
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Hang-Ye Zhang
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, China
- Case Room, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Yi-Fan Sun
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Wuxi Red Cross Blood Center, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Heng-Yuan Cui
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Su Han
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, China.
| | - Yang Cheng
- Laboratory of Pathogen Infection and Immunity, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, China.
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Marques RF, Gimenez AM, Caballero O, Simpson A, Salazar AM, Amino R, Godin S, Gazzinelli RT, Soares IS. Non-clinical toxicity and immunogenicity evaluation of a Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine using Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®) as adjuvant. Vaccine 2024; 42:2394-2406. [PMID: 38448321 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.070] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Malaria caused byPlasmodium vivaxis a pressing public health problem in tropical and subtropical areas.However, little progress has been made toward developing a P. vivaxvaccine, with only three candidates being tested in clinical studies. We previously reported that one chimeric recombinant protein (PvCSP-All epitopes) containing the conserved C-terminus of the P. vivax Circumsporozoite Protein (PvCSP), the three variant repeat domains, and aToll-like receptor-3 agonist,Poly(I:C), as an adjuvant (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, a dsRNA analog mimicking viral RNA), elicits strong antibody-mediated immune responses in mice to each of the three allelic forms of PvCSP. In the present study, a pre-clinical safety evaluation was performed to identify potential local and systemic toxic effects of the PvCSP-All epitopes combined with the Poly-ICLC (Poly I:C plus poly-L-lysine, Hiltonol®) or Poly-ICLC when subcutaneously injected into C57BL/6 mice and New Zealand White Rabbits followed by a 21-day recovery period. Overall, all observations were considered non-adverse and were consistent with the expected inflammatory response and immune stimulation following vaccine administration. High levels of vaccine-induced specific antibodies were detected both in mice and rabbits. Furthermore, mice that received the vaccine formulation were protected after the challenge with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites expressing CSP repeats from P. vivax sporozoites (Pb/Pv-VK210). In conclusion, in these non-clinical models, repeated dose administrations of the PvCSP-All epitopes vaccine adjuvanted with a Poly-ICLC were immunogenic, safe, and well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo F Marques
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alba M Gimenez
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Andres M Salazar
- Oncovir, Inc. Washington, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
| | - Steven Godin
- Smithers Avanza Toxicology Services, Gaithersburg, MD, United States of America
| | - Ricardo T Gazzinelli
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Irene S Soares
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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3
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Obaldía N, Da Silva Filho JL, Núñez M, Glass KA, Oulton T, Achcar F, Wirjanata G, Duraisingh M, Felgner P, Tetteh KK, Bozdech Z, Otto TD, Marti M. Sterile protection against P. vivax malaria by repeated blood stage infection in the Aotus monkey model. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302524. [PMID: 38158220 PMCID: PMC10756917 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax remains a major global public health challenge, and no vaccine is approved for use in humans. Here, we assessed whether P. vivax strain-transcendent immunity can be achieved by repeated infection in Aotus monkeys. Sterile immunity was achieved after two homologous infections, whereas subsequent heterologous challenge provided only partial protection. IgG levels based on P. vivax lysate ELISA and protein microarray increased with repeated infections and correlated with the level of homologous protection. Parasite transcriptional profiles provided no evidence of major antigenic switching upon homologous or heterologous challenge. However, we observed significant sequence diversity and transcriptional differences in the P. vivax core gene repertoire between the two strains used in the study, suggesting that partial protection upon heterologous challenge is due to molecular differences between strains rather than immune evasion by antigenic switching. Our study demonstrates that sterile immunity against P. vivax can be achieved by repeated homologous blood stage infection in Aotus monkeys, thus providing a benchmark to test the efficacy of candidate blood stage P. vivax malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicanor Obaldía
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitologia, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Republic of Panamá
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- https://ror.org/00vtgdb53 Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Joao Luiz Da Silva Filho
- https://ror.org/00vtgdb53 Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marlon Núñez
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitologia, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Republic of Panamá
| | - Katherine A Glass
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tate Oulton
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Fiona Achcar
- https://ror.org/00vtgdb53 Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Grennady Wirjanata
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Manoj Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Philip Felgner
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kevin Ka Tetteh
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Zbynek Bozdech
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thomas D Otto
- https://ror.org/00vtgdb53 Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Matthias Marti
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- https://ror.org/00vtgdb53 Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- https://ror.org/02crff812 Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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4
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Sy Thau N, Nguyen TK, Truong NV, Chu TTH, Na SH, Moon RW, Lau YL, Nyunt MH, Park WS, Chun WJ, Lu F, Lee SK, Han JH, Han ET. Characterization of merozoite-specific thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (MTRAP) in Plasmodium vivax and P. knowlesi parasites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1354880. [PMID: 38465236 PMCID: PMC10920329 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1354880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax, the most widespread human malaria parasite, and P. knowlesi, an emerging Plasmodium that infects humans, are the phylogenetically closest malarial species that infect humans, which may induce cross-species reactivity across most co-endemic areas in Southeast Asia. The thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) family is indispensable for motility and host cell invasion in the growth and development of Plasmodium parasites. The merozoite-specific TRAP (MTRAP), expressed in blood-stage merozoites, is supposed to be essential for human erythrocyte invasion. We aimed to characterize MTRAPs in blood-stage P. vivax and P. knowlesi parasites and ascertain their cross-species immunoreactivity. Recombinant P. vivax and P. knowlesi MTRAPs of full-length ectodomains were expressed in a mammalian expression system. The MTRAP-specific immunoglobulin G, obtained from immune animals, was used in an immunofluorescence assay for subcellular localization and invasion inhibitory activity in blood-stage parasites was determined. The cross-species humoral immune responses were analyzed in the sera of patients with P. vivax or P. knowlesi infections. The MTRAPs of P. vivax (PvMTRAP) and P. knowlesi (PkMTRAP) were localized on the rhoptry body of merozoites in blood-stage parasites. Both anti-PvMTRAP and anti-PkMTRAP antibodies inhibited erythrocyte invasion of blood-stage P. knowlesi parasites. The humoral immune response to PvMTRAP showed high immunogenicity, longevity, and cross-species immunoreactivity with P. knowlesi. MTRAPs are promising candidates for development of vaccines and therapeutics against vivax and knowlesi malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Sy Thau
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Tuyet-Kha Nguyen
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen Van Truong
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Thi-Thanh Hang Chu
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hun Na
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-d, Republic of Korea
| | - Robert W. Moon
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Won-Sun Park
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan-Joo Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Feng Lu
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Seong-Kyun Lee
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
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5
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Lee SK, Crosnier C, Valenzuela-Leon PC, Dizon BLP, Atkinson JP, Mu J, Wright GJ, Calvo E, Gunalan K, Miller LH. Complement receptor 1 is the human erythrocyte receptor for Plasmodium vivax erythrocyte binding protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316304121. [PMID: 38261617 PMCID: PMC10835065 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316304121] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery that Africans were resistant to infection by Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) led to the conclusion that P. vivax invasion relied on the P. vivax Duffy Binding Protein (PvDBP) interacting with the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) expressed on erythrocytes. However, the recent reporting of P. vivax infections in DARC-negative Africans suggests that the parasite might use an alternate invasion pathway to infect DARC-negative reticulocytes. To identify the parasite ligands and erythrocyte receptors that enable P. vivax invasion of both DARC-positive and -negative erythrocytes, we expressed region II containing the Duffy Binding-Like (DBL) domain of P. vivax erythrocyte binding protein (PvEBP-RII) and verified that the DBL domain binds to both DARC-positive and -negative erythrocytes. Furthermore, an AVidity-based EXtracelluar Interaction Screening (AVEXIS) was used to identify the receptor for PvEBP among over 750 human cell surface receptor proteins, and this approach identified only Complement Receptor 1 (CR1, CD35, or C3b/C4b receptor) as a PvEBP receptor. CR1 is a well-known receptor for P. falciparum Reticulocyte binding protein Homology 4 (PfRh4) and is present on the surfaces of both reticulocytes and normocytes, but its expression decreases as erythrocytes age. Indeed, PvEBP-RII bound to a subpopulation of both reticulocytes and normocytes, and this binding was blocked by the addition of soluble CR1 recombinant protein, indicating that CR1 is the receptor of PvEBP. In addition, we found that the Long Homology Repeat A (LHR-A) subdomain of CR1 is the only subdomain responsible for mediating the interaction with PvEBP-RII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Kyun Lee
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD20852
| | - Cécile Crosnier
- Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Carolina Valenzuela-Leon
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD20852
| | - Brian L. P. Dizon
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD20852
- Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - John P. Atkinson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO63110
| | - Jianbing Mu
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD20852
| | - Gavin J. Wright
- Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Eric Calvo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD20852
| | - Karthigayan Gunalan
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD20852
| | - Louis H. Miller
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD20852
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Yasir M, Park J, Han ET, Park WS, Han JH, Kwon YS, Lee HJ, Chun W. Virtual Screening of Flavonoids against Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein Utilizing Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Simulation. Curr Comput Aided Drug Des 2024; 20:616-627. [PMID: 37365785 DOI: 10.2174/1573409919666230626140339] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is one of the highly prevalent human malaria parasites. Due to the presence of extravascular reservoirs, P. vivax is extremely challenging to manage and eradicate. Traditionally, flavonoids have been widely used to combat various diseases. Recently, biflavonoids were discovered to be effective against Plasmodium falciparum. METHODS In this study, in silico approaches were utilized to inhibit Duffy binding protein (DBP), responsible for Plasmodium invasion into red blood cells (RBC). The interaction of flavonoid molecules with the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) binding site of DBP was investigated using a molecular docking approach. Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulation studies were carried out to study the stability of top-docked complexes. RESULTS The results showed the effectiveness of flavonoids, such as daidzein, genistein, kaempferol, and quercetin, in the DBP binding site. These flavonoids were found to bind in the active region of DBP. Furthermore, the stability of these four ligands was maintained throughout the 50 ns simulation, maintaining stable hydrogen bond formation with the active site residues of DBP. CONCLUSION The present study suggests that flavonoids might be good candidates and novel agents against DBP-mediated RBC invasion of P. vivax and can be further analyzed in in vitro studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Yasir
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyoung Park
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Sun Park
- Department of Physiology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Soo Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jae Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanjoo Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
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7
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Yasir M, Park J, Han ET, Park WS, Han JH, Kwon YS, Lee HJ, Chun W. Computational Exploration of Licorice for Lead Compounds against Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein Utilizing Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Simulation. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083358. [PMID: 37110591 PMCID: PMC10141081 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is one of the human's most common malaria parasites. P. vivax is exceedingly difficult to control and eliminate due to the existence of extravascular reservoirs and recurring infections from latent liver stages. Traditionally, licorice compounds have been widely investigated against viral and infectious diseases and exhibit some promising results to combat these diseases. In the present study, computational approaches are utilized to study the effect of licorice compounds against P. vivax Duffy binding protein (DBP) to inhibit the malarial invasion to human red blood cells (RBCs). The main focus is to block the DBP binding site to Duffy antigen receptor chemokines (DARC) of RBC to restrict the formation of the DBP-DARC complex. A molecular docking study was performed to analyze the interaction of licorice compounds with the DARC binding site of DBP. Furthermore, the triplicates of molecular dynamic simulation studies for 100 ns were carried out to study the stability of representative docked complexes. The leading compounds such as licochalcone A, echinatin, and licochalcone B manifest competitive results against DBP. The blockage of the active region of DBP resulting from these compounds was maintained throughout the triplicates of 100 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, maintaining stable hydrogen bond formation with the active site residues of DBP. Therefore, the present study suggests that licorice compounds might be good candidates for novel agents against DBP-mediated RBC invasion of P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Yasir
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyoung Park
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Taek Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Sun Park
- Department of Physiology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hee Han
- Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Soo Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jae Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanjoo Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
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Otsuki H, Kaneko O, Ito D, Kondo Y, Iriko H, Ishino T, Tachibana M, Tsuboi T, Torii M. Cysteine Residues in Region 6 of the Plasmodium yoelii Erythrocyte-Binding-like Ligand That Are Related to Its Localization and the Course of Infection. Biomolecules 2023; 13:458. [PMID: 36979393 PMCID: PMC10046610 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030458] [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: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium malaria parasites use erythrocyte-binding-like (EBL) ligands to invade erythrocytes in their vertebrate host. EBLs are released from micronemes, which are secretory organelles located at the merozoite apical end and bind to erythrocyte surface receptors. Because of their essential nature, EBLs have been studied as vaccine candidates, such as the Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein. Previously, we showed through using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii that a single amino acid substitution within the EBL C-terminal Cys-rich domain (region 6) caused mislocalization of this molecule and resulted in alteration of the infection course and virulence between the non-lethal 17X and lethal 17XL strains. In the present study, we generated a panel of transgenic P. yoelii lines in which seven of the eight conserved Cys residues in EBL region 6 were independently substituted to Ala residues to observe the consequence of these substitutions with respect to EBL localization, the infection course, and virulence. Five out of seven transgenic lines showed EBL mislocalizations and higher parasitemias. Among them, three showed increased virulence, whereas the other two did not kill the infected mice. The remaining two transgenic lines showed low parasitemias similar to their parental 17X strain, and their EBL localizations did not change. The results indicate the importance of Cys residues in EBL region 6 for EBL localization, parasite infection course, and virulence and suggest an association between EBL localization and the parasite infection course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Otsuki
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Yoko Kondo
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Iriko
- Division of Global Infectious Diseases, Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe 654-0142, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ishino
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Mayumi Tachibana
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon 791-0295, Japan
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Cell-Free Sciences, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan
| | - Motomi Torii
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon 791-0295, Japan
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Chandley P, Ranjan R, Kumar S, Rohatgi S. Host-parasite interactions during Plasmodium infection: Implications for immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1091961. [PMID: 36685595 PMCID: PMC9845897 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1091961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a global infectious disease that remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Multiple environmental and host and parasite factors govern the clinical outcomes of malaria. The host immune response against the Plasmodium parasite is heterogenous and stage-specific both in the human host and mosquito vector. The Plasmodium parasite virulence is predominantly associated with its ability to evade the host's immune response. Despite the availability of drug-based therapies, Plasmodium parasites can acquire drug resistance due to high antigenic variations and allelic polymorphisms. The lack of licensed vaccines against Plasmodium infection necessitates the development of effective, safe and successful therapeutics. To design an effective vaccine, it is important to study the immune evasion strategies and stage-specific Plasmodium proteins, which are targets of the host immune response. This review provides an overview of the host immune defense mechanisms and parasite immune evasion strategies during Plasmodium infection. Furthermore, we also summarize and discuss the current progress in various anti-malarial vaccine approaches, along with antibody-based therapy involving monoclonal antibodies, and research advancements in host-directed therapy, which can together open new avenues for developing novel immunotherapies against malaria infection and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Chandley
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
| | - Ravikant Ranjan
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Soma Rohatgi
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India,*Correspondence: Soma Rohatgi,
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