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Ciubotariu II, Broyles BK, Xie S, Thimmapuram J, Mwenda MC, Mambwe B, Mulube C, Matoba J, Schue JL, Moss WJ, Bridges DJ, He Q, Carpi G. Diversity and selection analyses identify transmission-blocking antigens as the optimal vaccine candidates in Plasmodium falciparum. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.11.24307175. [PMID: 38766239 PMCID: PMC11100930 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.11.24307175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Background A highly effective vaccine for malaria remains an elusive target, at least in part due to the under-appreciated natural parasite variation. This study aimed to investigate genetic and structural variation, and immune selection of leading malaria vaccine candidates across the Plasmodium falciparum's life cycle. Methods We analyzed 325 P. falciparum whole genome sequences from Zambia, in addition to 791 genomes from five other African countries available in the MalariaGEN Pf3k Rdatabase. Ten vaccine antigens spanning three life-history stages were examined for genetic and structural variations, using population genetics measures, haplotype network analysis, and 3D structure selection analysis. Findings Among the ten antigens analyzed, only three in the transmission-blocking vaccine category display P. falciparum 3D7 as the dominant haplotype. The antigens AMA1, CSP, MSP119 and CelTOS, are much more diverse than the other antigens, and their epitope regions are under moderate to strong balancing selection. In contrast, Rh5, a blood stage antigen, displays low diversity yet slightly stronger immune selection in the merozoite-blocking epitope region. Except for CelTOS, the transmission-blocking antigens Pfs25, Pfs48/45, Pfs230, Pfs47, and Pfs28 exhibit minimal diversity and no immune selection in epitopes that induce strain-transcending antibodies, suggesting potential effectiveness of 3D7-based vaccines in blocking transmission. Interpretations These findings offer valuable insights into the selection of optimal vaccine candidates against P. falciparum. Based on our results, we recommend prioritizing conserved merozoite antigens and transmission-blocking antigens. Combining these antigens in multi-stage approaches may be particularly promising for malaria vaccine development initiatives. Funding Purdue Department of Biological Sciences; Puskas Memorial Fellowship; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19AI089680).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilinca I. Ciubotariu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Bradley K. Broyles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Shaojun Xie
- Bioinformatics Core, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Mulenga C. Mwenda
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Brenda Mambwe
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Conceptor Mulube
- PATH-Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), National Malaria Elimination Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Jessica L. Schue
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - William J. Moss
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Qixin He
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Giovanna Carpi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
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2
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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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3
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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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Oboh MA, Asmorom N, Falade C, Ojurongbe O, Thomas BN. High genetic and haplotype diversity in vaccine candidate Pfceltos but not Pfrh5 among malaria-infected children in Ibadan, Nigeria. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16519. [PMID: 38099304 PMCID: PMC10720411 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16519] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a global public health challenge. The disease has a great impact in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five years of age and pregnant women. Malaria control programs targeting the parasite and mosquitoes vectors with combinational therapy and insecticide-treated bednets are becoming obsolete due to the phenomenon of resistance, which is a challenge for reducing morbidity and mortality. Malaria vaccines would be effective alternative to the problem of parasite and insecticide resistance, but focal reports of polymorphisms in malaria candidate antigens have made it difficult to design an effective malaria vaccine. Therefore, studies geared towards elucidating the polymorphic pattern and how genes targeted for vaccine design evolve are imperative. We have carried out molecular and genetic analysis of two genes encoding vaccine candidates-the Plasmodium falciparum cell traversal ookinetes and sporozoites (Pfceltos) and P. falciparum reticulocyte binding protein 5 (Pfrh5) in parasite isolates from malaria-infected children in Ibadan, Nigeria to evaluate their genetic diversity, relatedness and pattern of molecular evolution. Pfceltos and Pfrh5 genes were amplified from P. falciparum positive samples. Amplified fragments were purified and sequenced using the chain termination method. Post-sequence edit of fragments and application of various population genetic analyses was done. We observed a higher number of segregating sites and haplotypes in the Pfceltos than in Pfrh5 gene, the former also presenting higher haplotype (0.942) and nucleotide diversity (θ = 0.01219 and π = 0.01148). In contrast, a lower haplotype (0.426) and nucleotide diversity (θ = 0.00125; π = 0.00095) was observed in the Pfrh5 gene. Neutrality tests do not show deviation from neutral expectations for Pfceltos, with the circulation of multiple low frequency haplotypes (Tajima's D = -0.21637; Fu and Li's D = -0.08164; Fu and Li's F = -0.14051). Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed between variable sites, in each of the genes studied. We postulate that the high diversity and circulation of multiple haplotypes has the potential of making a Pfceltos-subunit vaccine ineffective, while the low genetic diversity of Pfrh5 gene substantiates its evolutionary conservation and potential as a malaria vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Aigbiremo Oboh
- Biomedical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Naemy Asmorom
- Biomedical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Catherine Falade
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - Olusola Ojurongbe
- Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Osun, Nigeria
- Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - Bolaji N. Thomas
- Biomedical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States of America
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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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6
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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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7
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Dickey TH, Gupta R, McAleese H, Ouahes T, Orr-Gonzalez S, Ma R, Muratova O, Salinas ND, Hume JCC, Lambert LE, Duffy PE, Tolia NH. Design of a stabilized non-glycosylated Pfs48/45 antigen enables a potent malaria transmission-blocking nanoparticle vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:20. [PMID: 36808125 PMCID: PMC9938515 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00619-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A malaria vaccine that blocks parasite transmission from human to mosquito would be a powerful method of disrupting the parasite lifecycle and reducing the incidence of disease in humans. Pfs48/45 is a promising antigen in development as a transmission blocking vaccine (TBV) against the deadliest malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The third domain of Pfs48/45 (D3) is an established TBV candidate, but production challenges have hampered development. For example, to date, a non-native N-glycan is required to stabilize the domain when produced in eukaryotic systems. Here, we implement a SPEEDesign computational design and in vitro screening pipeline that retains the potent transmission blocking epitope in Pfs48/45 while creating a stabilized non-glycosylated Pfs48/45 D3 antigen with improved characteristics for vaccine manufacture. This antigen can be genetically fused to a self-assembling single-component nanoparticle, resulting in a vaccine that elicits potent transmission-reducing activity in rodents at low doses. The enhanced Pfs48/45 antigen enables many new and powerful approaches to TBV development, and this antigen design method can be broadly applied towards the design of other vaccine antigens and therapeutics without interfering glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thayne H. Dickey
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Richi Gupta
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Holly McAleese
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Tarik Ouahes
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Sachy Orr-Gonzalez
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Rui Ma
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Olga Muratova
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Nichole D. Salinas
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Jen C. C. Hume
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Lynn E. Lambert
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Patrick E. Duffy
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Vaccine Development Unit, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA ,grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Pathogenesis and Immunity Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Niraj H. Tolia
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD USA
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8
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da Veiga GTS, Moriggi MR, Vettorazzi JF, Müller-Santos M, Albrecht L. Plasmodium vivax vaccine: What is the best way to go? Front Immunol 2023; 13:910236. [PMID: 36726991 PMCID: PMC9885200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.910236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most devastating human infectious diseases caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites. A search for an effective and safe vaccine is the main challenge for its eradication. Plasmodium vivax is the second most prevalent Plasmodium species and the most geographically distributed parasite and has been neglected for decades. This has a massive gap in knowledge and consequently in the development of vaccines. The most significant difficulties in obtaining a vaccine against P. vivax are the high genetic diversity and the extremely complex life cycle. Due to its complexity, studies have evaluated P. vivax antigens from different stages as potential targets for an effective vaccine. Therefore, the main vaccine candidates are grouped into preerythrocytic stage vaccines, blood-stage vaccines, and transmission-blocking vaccines. This review aims to support future investigations by presenting the main findings of vivax malaria vaccines to date. There are only a few P. vivax vaccines in clinical trials, and thus far, the best protective efficacy was a vaccine formulated with synthetic peptide from a circumsporozoite protein and Montanide ISA-51 as an adjuvant with 54.5% efficacy in a phase IIa study. In addition, the majority of P. vivax antigen candidates are polymorphic, induce strain-specific and heterogeneous immunity and provide only partial protection. Nevertheless, immunization with recombinant proteins and multiantigen vaccines have shown promising results and have emerged as excellent strategies. However, more studies are necessary to assess the ideal vaccine combination and test it in clinical trials. Developing a safe and effective vaccine against vivax malaria is essential for controlling and eliminating the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what is already known to propose and identify new candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele Tatiane Soares da Veiga
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Parasites Research, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil,Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo Müller-Santos
- Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Letusa Albrecht
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Parasites Research, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil,*Correspondence: Letusa Albrecht,
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9
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Waghela IN, Mallory KL, Taylor JA, Schneider CG, Savransky T, Janse CJ, Lin PJC, Tam YK, Weissman D, Angov E. Exploring in vitro expression and immune potency in mice using mRNA encoding the Plasmodium falciparum malaria antigen, CelTOS. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1026052. [PMID: 36591298 PMCID: PMC9798330 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1026052] [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: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The secreted malarial protein, Cell-Traversal protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites (CelTOS), is highly conserved among Plasmodium species, and plays a role in the invasion of mosquito midgut cells and hepatocytes in the vertebrate host. CelTOS was identified as a potential protective antigen based on a proteomic analysis, which showed that CelTOS stimulated significant effector T cells producing IFN-γ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from radiation attenuated sporozoite-immunized, malaria-naïve human subjects. In a rodent malaria model, recombinant full-length CelTOS protein/adjuvant combinations induced sterile protection, and in several studies, functional antibodies were produced that had hepatocyte invasion inhibition and transmission-blocking activities. Despite some encouraging results, vaccine approaches using CelTOS will require improvement before it can be considered as an effective vaccine candidate. Here, we report on the use of mRNA vaccine technology to induce humoral and cell-mediated immune responses using this antigen. Several pfceltos encoding mRNA transcripts were assessed for the impact on protein translation levels in vitro. Protein coding sequences included those to evaluate the effects of signal sequence, N-glycosylation on translation, and of nucleoside substitutions. Using in vitro transfection experiments as a pre-screen, we assessed the quality of the expressed CelTOS target relative to the homogeneity, cellular localization, and durability of expression levels. Optimized mRNA transcripts, which demonstrated highest protein expression levels in vitro were selected for encapsulation in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) and used to immunize mice to assess for both humoral and cellular cytokine responses. Our findings indicate that mRNA transcripts encoding pfceltos while potent for inducing antigen-specific cellular cytokine responses in mice, were less able to mount PfCelTOS-specific antibody responses using a two-dose regimen. An additional booster dose was needed to overcome low seroconversion rates in mice. With respect to antibody fine specificities, N-glycosylation site mutated immunogens yielded lower immune responses, particularly to the N-terminus of the molecule. While it remains unclear the impact on CelTOS antigen as immunogen, this study highlights the need to optimize antigen design for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishita N. Waghela
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States,Parsons Corporation, Centreville, VA, United States
| | - Katherine L. Mallory
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States,Parsons Corporation, Centreville, VA, United States
| | - Justin A. Taylor
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States,The Geneva Foundation, Tacoma, WA, United States
| | - Cosette G. Schneider
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States,Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Tatyana Savransky
- Entomology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States,General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, VA, United States
| | - Chris J. Janse
- Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Ying K. Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Drew Weissman
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Evelina Angov
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Evelina Angov,
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10
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Oboh MA, Isaac C, Schroeter MN, Morenikeji OB, Amambua-Ngwa A, Meremikwu MM, Thomas BN. Population genetic analysis of Plasmodium falciparum cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoite among malaria patients from southern Nigeria. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 105:105369. [PMID: 36182066 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum immune escape mechanisms affect antigens being prioritized for vaccine design. As a result of the multiple surface antigens the parasite exhibits at different life cycle stages, designing a vaccine that would efficiently boost the immune system in clearing infections has been challenging. The P. falciparum cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoite (Pfceltos) is instrumental for ookinete traversal of the mosquito midgut and sporozoites invasion of the human liver cells. Pfceltos elicits both humoral and cellular immune response but has been reported with multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms in global isolates. A cross-sectional survey, conducted in southern Nigeria, between January-March 2021 recruited 283 individuals. Of this, 166 demonstrated P. falciparum infections (86 from Cross River and 80 from Edo), 48 (55.8%) while only 36 (45%) were amplified for Pfceltos gene from both sites respectively. Fifty amplified samples were sequenced and analysed for their diversity, polymorphisms and population structure of the gene. The number of segregating sites in Edo State was higher (34) than that of Cross River State. Though nucleotide diversity was higher for Edo compared to Cross River State (θw = 0.02505; π = 0.03993 versus θw = 0.00930; π = 0.01033 respectively), the reverse was the case for haplotype diversity (0.757 versus 0.890 for Edo and Cross River respectively). Of the twelve haplotypes observed from both states, only two (KASLPVEK and NAFLSFEK) were shared, with haplotype prevalence higher in Edo (16% and 36%) than Cross River (8% and 4%). The Tajima's D test was positive for both states, with Fst value showing a strong genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.25599), indicating the occurrence of balancing selection favoring haplotype circulation at a low frequency. The shared haplotypes, low Hst and Fst values presents a challenge to predict the extent of gene flow. High LD values present a grim public health consequence should a Pfceltos-conjugated vaccine be considered for prophylaxis in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary A Oboh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States of America.
| | - Clement Isaac
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
| | - Marissa N Schroeter
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Olanrewaju B Morenikeji
- Division of Biological and Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Bradford, PA 16701, United States of America
| | - Alfred Amambua-Ngwa
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, the Gambia
| | - Martin M Meremikwu
- University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
| | - Bolaji N Thomas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States of America.
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11
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Jagannath DK, Valiyaparambil A, Viswanath VK, Hurakadli MA, Kamariah N, Jafer AC, Patole C, Pradhan S, Kumar N, Lakshminarasimhan A. Refolding and characterization of a diabody against Pfs25, a vaccine candidate of Plasmodium falciparum. Anal Biochem 2022; 655:114830. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2022.114830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Schneider CG, Fey J, Zou X, Gerbasi V, Savransky T, Batt C, Bergmann-Leitner E, Angov E. Norovirus-VLPs expressing pre-erythrocytic malaria antigens induce functional immunity against sporozoite infection. Vaccine 2022; 40:4270-4280. [PMID: 35697572 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.076] [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: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite the development of prophylactic anti-malarial drugs and practices to prevent infection, malaria remains a health concern. Preclinical testing of novel malaria vaccine strategies achieved through rational antigen selection and novel particle-based delivery platforms is yielding encouraging results. One such platform, self-assembling virus-like particles (VLP) is safer than attenuated live viruses, and has been approved as a vaccination tool by the FDA. We explore the use of Norovirus sub-viral particles lacking the natural shell (S) domain forming the interior shell but that retain the protruding (P) structures of the native virus as a vaccine vector. Epitope selection and their surface display has the potential to focus antigen specific immune responses to crucial epitopes. Recombinant P-particles displaying epitopes from two malaria antigens, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) CelTOS and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) CSP, were evaluated for immunogenicity and their ability to confer protection in a murine challenge model. Immune responses induced in mice resulted either in sterile protection (displaying PfCelTOS epitopes) or in antibodies with functional activity against sporozoites (displaying PfCSP epitopes) in an in vitro liver-stage development assay (ILSDA). These results are encouraging and support further evaluation of this platform as a vaccine delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosette G Schneider
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Julien Fey
- Agave BioSystems, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
| | - Xiaoyan Zou
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Vince Gerbasi
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Tatyana Savransky
- Entomology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA.
| | - Carl Batt
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Elke Bergmann-Leitner
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - Evelina Angov
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
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13
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Kumar H, Jimah JR, Misal SA, Salinas ND, Fried M, Schlesinger PH, Tolia NH. Implications of conformational flexibility, lipid binding, and regulatory domains in cell traversal-protein CelTOS for apicomplexan migration. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102241. [PMID: 35809642 PMCID: PMC9400078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria and other apicomplexan-caused diseases affect millions of humans, agricultural animals, and pets. Cell traversal is a common feature used by multiple apicomplexan parasites to migrate through host cells and can be exploited to develop therapeutics against these deadly parasites. Here, we provide insights into the mechanism of the Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS), a conserved cell-traversal protein in apicomplexan parasites and malaria vaccine candidate. CelTOS has previously been shown to form pores in cell membranes to enable traversal of parasites through cells. We establish roles for the distinct protein regions of Plasmodium vivax CelTOS and examine the mechanism of pore formation. We further demonstrate that CelTOS dimer dissociation is required for pore formation, as disulfide bridging between monomers inhibits pore formation, and this inhibition is rescued by disulfide-bridge reduction. We also show that a helix-destabilizing amino acid, Pro127, allows CelTOS to undergo significant conformational changes to assemble into pores. The flexible C terminus of CelTOS is a negative regulator that limits pore formation. Finally, we highlight that lipid binding is a prerequisite for pore assembly as mutation of a phospholipids-binding site in CelTOS resulted in loss of lipid binding and abrogated pore formation. These findings identify critical regions in CelTOS and will aid in understanding the egress mechanism of malaria and other apicomplexan parasites as well as have implications for studying the function of other essential pore-forming proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirdesh Kumar
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John R Jimah
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Santosh A Misal
- Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nichole D Salinas
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michal Fried
- Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul H Schlesinger
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington, University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, United States
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland.
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14
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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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15
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Aleshnick M, Florez-Cuadros M, Martinson T, Wilder BK. Monoclonal antibodies for malaria prevention. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1810-1821. [PMID: 35395399 PMCID: PMC8979832 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.04.001] [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: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific proteins that are cloned from a single B cell and bind to a single epitope on a pathogen. These laboratory-made molecules can serve as prophylactics or therapeutics for infectious diseases and have an impressive capacity to modulate the progression of disease, as demonstrated for the first time on a large scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. The high specificity and natural starting point of monoclonal antibodies afford an encouraging safety profile, yet the high cost of production remains a major limitation to their widespread use. While a monoclonal antibody approach to abrogating malaria infection is not yet available, the unique life cycle of the malaria parasite affords many opportunities for such proteins to act, and preliminary research into the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies in preventing malaria infection, disease, and transmission is encouraging. This review examines the current status and future outlook for monoclonal antibodies against malaria in the context of the complex life cycle and varied antigenic targets expressed in the human and mosquito hosts, and provides insight into the strengths and limitations of this approach to curtailing one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Aleshnick
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Thomas Martinson
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Brandon K Wilder
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA; Department of Parasitology, U.S. Naval Medical Research 6 (NAMRU-6), Lima, Peru
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16
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Global diversity and balancing selection of 23 leading Plasmodium falciparum candidate vaccine antigens. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009801. [PMID: 35108259 PMCID: PMC8843232 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigation of the diversity of malaria parasite antigens can help prioritize and validate them as vaccine candidates and identify the most common variants for inclusion in vaccine formulations. Studies of vaccine candidates of the most virulent human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, have focused on a handful of well-known antigens, while several others have never been studied. Here we examine the global diversity and population structure of leading vaccine candidate antigens of P. falciparum using the MalariaGEN Pf3K (version 5.1) resource, comprising more than 2600 genomes from 15 malaria endemic countries. A stringent variant calling pipeline was used to extract high quality antigen gene 'haplotypes' from the global dataset and a new R-package named VaxPack was used to streamline population genetic analyses. In addition, a newly developed algorithm that enables spatial averaging of selection pressure on 3D protein structures was applied to the dataset. We analysed the genes encoding 23 leading and novel candidate malaria vaccine antigens including csp, trap, eba175, ama1, rh5, and CelTOS. Our analysis shows that current malaria vaccine formulations are based on rare haplotypes and thus may have limited efficacy against natural parasite populations. High levels of diversity with evidence of balancing selection was detected for most of the erythrocytic and pre-erythrocytic antigens. Measures of natural selection were then mapped to 3D protein structures to predict targets of functional antibodies. For some antigens, geographical variation in the intensity and distribution of these signals on the 3D structure suggests adaptation to different human host or mosquito vector populations. This study provides an essential framework for the diversity of P. falciparum antigens to be considered in the design of the next generation of malaria vaccines.
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17
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Plasmepsin-like Aspartyl Proteases in Babesia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101241. [PMID: 34684190 PMCID: PMC8540915 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101241] [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: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan genomes encode multiple pepsin-family aspartyl proteases (APs) that phylogenetically cluster to six independent clades (A to F). Such diversification has been powered by the function-driven evolution of the ancestral apicomplexan AP gene and is associated with the adaptation of various apicomplexan species to different strategies of host infection and transmission through various invertebrate vectors. To estimate the potential roles of Babesia APs, we performed qRT-PCR-based expressional profiling of Babesia microti APs (BmASP2, 3, 5, 6), which revealed the dynamically changing mRNA levels and indicated the specific roles of individual BmASP isoenzymes throughout the life cycle of this parasite. To expand on the current knowledge on piroplasmid APs, we searched the EuPathDB and NCBI GenBank databases to identify and phylogenetically analyse the complete sets of APs encoded by the genomes of selected Babesia and Theileria species. Our results clearly determine the potential roles of identified APs by their phylogenetic relation to their homologues of known function—Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsins (PfPM I–X) and Toxoplasma gondii aspartyl proteases (TgASP1–7). Due to the analogies with plasmodial plasmepsins, piroplasmid APs represent valuable enzymatic targets that are druggable by small molecule inhibitors—candidate molecules for the yet-missing specific therapy for babesiosis.
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18
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Jayawant ES, Hutchinson J, Gašparíková D, Lockey C, Pruñonosa Lara L, Guy C, Brooks RL, Dixon AM. Molecular Basis of Selectivity and Activity for the Antimicrobial Peptide Lynronne-1 Informs Rational Design of Peptide with Improved Activity. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2430-2439. [PMID: 34028161 PMCID: PMC8362026 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a significant threat to human health, with natural products remaining the best source for new antimicrobial compounds. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are natural products with great potential for clinical use as they are small, amenable to customization, and show broad-spectrum activities. Lynronne-1 is a promising AMP identified in the rumen microbiome that shows broad-spectrum activity against pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. Here we investigated the structure of Lynronne-1 using solution NMR spectroscopy and identified a 13-residue amphipathic helix containing all six cationic residues. We used biophysical approaches to observe folding, membrane partitioning and membrane lysis selective to the presence of anionic lipids. We translated our understanding of Lynronne-1 structure to design peptides which varied in the size of their hydrophobic helical face. These peptides displayed the predicted continuum of membrane-lysis activities in vitro and in vivo, and yielded a new AMP with 4-fold improved activity against A. baumannii and 32-fold improved activity against S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor S. Jayawant
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickGibbett Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Jack Hutchinson
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickGibbett Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Dorota Gašparíková
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickGibbett Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Christine Lockey
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickGibbett Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | | | - Ciaran Guy
- SynBio Doctoral Training CentreUniversity of WarwickGibbet Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Rhiannon L. Brooks
- MAS Centre for Doctoral TrainingUniversity of WarwickGibbet Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Ann M. Dixon
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickGibbett Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
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19
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Dass S, Shunmugam S, Berry L, Arnold CS, Katris NJ, Duley S, Pierrel F, Cesbron-Delauw MF, Yamaryo-Botté Y, Botté CY. Toxoplasma LIPIN is essential in channeling host lipid fluxes through membrane biogenesis and lipid storage. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2813. [PMID: 34001876 PMCID: PMC8129101 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22956-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites responsible for major human diseases. Their intracellular survival relies on intense lipid synthesis, which fuels membrane biogenesis. Parasite lipids are generated as an essential combination of fatty acids scavenged from the host and de novo synthesized within the parasite apicoplast. The molecular and metabolic mechanisms allowing regulation and channeling of these fatty acid fluxes for intracellular parasite survival are currently unknown. Here, we identify an essential phosphatidic acid phosphatase in Toxoplasma gondii, TgLIPIN, as the central metabolic nexus responsible for controlled lipid synthesis sustaining parasite development. Lipidomics reveal that TgLIPIN controls the synthesis of diacylglycerol and levels of phosphatidic acid that regulates the fine balance of lipids between storage and membrane biogenesis. Using fluxomic approaches, we uncover the first parasite host-scavenged lipidome and show that TgLIPIN prevents parasite death by 'lipotoxicity' through effective channeling of host-scavenged fatty acids to storage triacylglycerols and membrane phospholipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena Dass
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Serena Shunmugam
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Laurence Berry
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interactions, UMR 5235, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe-Sebastien Arnold
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Nicholas J Katris
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Samuel Duley
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Fabien Pierrel
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble, France
| | - Marie-France Cesbron-Delauw
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Yoshiki Yamaryo-Botté
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France.
| | - Cyrille Y Botté
- Apicolipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France.
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20
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Loubens M, Vincensini L, Fernandes P, Briquet S, Marinach C, Silvie O. Plasmodium sporozoites on the move: Switching from cell traversal to productive invasion of hepatocytes. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:870-881. [PMID: 33191548 PMCID: PMC8247013 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Plasmodium, the etiological agent of malaria, are transmitted through the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, which deposit sporozoites into the host skin. Sporozoites migrate through the dermis, enter the bloodstream, and rapidly traffic to the liver. They cross the liver sinusoidal barrier and traverse several hepatocytes before switching to productive invasion of a final one for replication inside a parasitophorous vacuole. Cell traversal and productive invasion are functionally independent processes that require proteins secreted from specialized secretory organelles known as micronemes. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how sporozoites traverse through cells and productively invade hepatocytes, and discuss the role of environmental sensing in switching from a migratory to an invasive state. We propose that timely controlled secretion of distinct microneme subsets could play a key role in successful migration and infection of hepatocytes. A better understanding of these essential biological features of the Plasmodium sporozoite may contribute to the development of new strategies to fight against the very first and asymptomatic stage of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Loubens
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Laetitia Vincensini
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Priyanka Fernandes
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Sylvie Briquet
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Carine Marinach
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies InfectieusesSorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, CIMI‐ParisParisFrance
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21
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Ammendolia DA, Bement WM, Brumell JH. Plasma membrane integrity: implications for health and disease. BMC Biol 2021; 19:71. [PMID: 33849525 PMCID: PMC8042475 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-00972-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma membrane integrity is essential for cellular homeostasis. In vivo, cells experience plasma membrane damage from a multitude of stressors in the extra- and intra-cellular environment. To avoid lethal consequences, cells are equipped with repair pathways to restore membrane integrity. Here, we assess plasma membrane damage and repair from a whole-body perspective. We highlight the role of tissue-specific stressors in health and disease and examine membrane repair pathways across diverse cell types. Furthermore, we outline the impact of genetic and environmental factors on plasma membrane integrity and how these contribute to disease pathogenesis in different tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin A Ammendolia
- Cell Biology Program, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street PGCRL, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - William M Bement
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging and Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - John H Brumell
- Cell Biology Program, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street PGCRL, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada. .,SickKids IBD Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
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22
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Witmer K, Dahalan FA, Metcalf T, Talman AM, Howick VM, Lawniczak MKN. Using scRNA-seq to Identify Transcriptional Variation in the Malaria Parasite Ookinete Stage. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:604129. [PMID: 33732658 PMCID: PMC7958875 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.604129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The crossing of the mosquito midgut epithelium by the malaria parasite motile ookinete form represents the most extreme population bottleneck in the parasite life cycle and is a prime target for transmission blocking strategies. However, we have little understanding of the clonal variation that exists in a population of ookinetes in the vector, partially because the parasites are difficult to access and are found in low numbers. Within a vector, variation may result as a response to specific environmental cues or may exist independent of those cues as a potential bet-hedging strategy. Here we use single-cell RNA-seq to profile transcriptional variation in Plasmodium berghei ookinetes across different vector species, and between and within individual midguts. We then compare our results to low-input transcriptomes from individual Anopheles coluzzii midguts infected with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Although the vast majority of transcriptional changes in ookinetes are driven by development, we have identified candidate genes that may be responding to environmental cues or are clonally variant within a population. Our results illustrate the value of single-cell and low-input technologies in understanding clonal variation of parasite populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Witmer
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Farah Aida Dahalan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Metcalf
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Arthur M. Talman
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Virginia M. Howick
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mara K. N. Lawniczak
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
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23
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Arredondo SA, Schepis A, Reynolds L, Kappe SHI. Secretory Organelle Function in the Plasmodium Sporozoite. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:651-663. [PMID: 33589364 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites exhibit a complex infection biology in the mosquito and mammalian hosts. The sporozoite apical secretory organelles, the micronemes and rhoptries, store protein mediators of parasite/host/vector interactions and must secrete them in a temporally and spatially well orchestrated manner. Micronemal proteins are critical for sporozoite motility throughout its journey from the mosquito midgut oocyst to the mammalian liver, and also for cell traversal (CT) and hepatocyte invasion. Rhoptry proteins, until recently thought to be only important for hepatocyte invasion, appear to also play an unexpected role in motility and in the interaction with mosquito tissue. Therefore, navigating the different microenvironments with secretion likely requires the sporozoite to have a more complex system of secretory organelles than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia A Arredondo
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Antonino Schepis
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Laura Reynolds
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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24
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De SL, Ntumngia FB, Nicholas J, Adams JH. Progress towards the development of a P. vivax vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:97-112. [PMID: 33481638 PMCID: PMC7994195 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1880898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Plasmodium vivax causes significant public health problems in endemic regions. A vaccine to prevent disease is critical, considering the rapid spread of drug-resistant parasite strains, and the development of hypnozoites in the liver with potential for relapse. A minimally effective vaccine should prevent disease and transmission while an ideal vaccine provides sterile immunity. AREAS COVERED Despite decades of research, the complex life cycle, technical challenges and a lack of funding have hampered progress of P. vivax vaccine development. Here, we review the progress of potential P. vivax vaccine candidates from different stages of the parasite life cycle. We also highlight the challenges and important strategies for rational vaccine design. These factors can significantly increase immune effector mechanisms and improve the protective efficacy of these candidates in clinical trials to generate sustained protection over longer periods of time. EXPERT OPINION A vaccine that presents functionally-conserved epitopes from multiple antigens from various stages of the parasite life cycle is key to induce broadly neutralizing strain-transcending protective immunity to effectively disrupt parasite development and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Lata De
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
| | - Francis B. Ntumngia
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
| | - Justin Nicholas
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
| | - John H. Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa – 33612, FL
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25
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Schneider CG, Taylor JA, Sibilo MQ, Miura K, Mallory KL, Mann C, Karch C, Beck Z, Matyas GR, Long CA, Bergmann-Leitner E, Burkhard P, Angov E. Orientation of Antigen Display on Self-Assembling Protein Nanoparticles Influences Immunogenicity. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020103. [PMID: 33572803 PMCID: PMC7911071 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembling protein nanoparticles (SAPN) serve as a repetitive antigen delivery platform with high-density epitope display; however, antigen characteristics such as size and epitope presentation can influence the immunogenicity of the assembled particle and are aspects to consider for a rationally designed effective vaccine. Here, we characterize the folding and immunogenicity of heterogeneous antigen display by integrating (a) dual-stage antigen SAPN presenting the P. falciparum (Pf) merozoite surface protein 1 subunit, PfMSP119, and Pf cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites, PfCelTOS, in addition to (b) a homogenous antigen SAPN displaying two copies of PfCelTOS. Mice and rabbits were utilized to evaluate antigen-specific humoral and cellular induction as well as functional antibodies via growth inhibition of the blood-stage parasite. We demonstrate that antigen orientation and folding influence the elicited immune response, and when appropriately designed, SAPN can serve as an adaptable platform for an effective multi-antigen display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosette G. Schneider
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.G.S.); (J.A.T.); (M.Q.S.); (K.L.M.); (C.M.); (E.B.-L.)
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Justin A. Taylor
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.G.S.); (J.A.T.); (M.Q.S.); (K.L.M.); (C.M.); (E.B.-L.)
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Michael Q. Sibilo
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.G.S.); (J.A.T.); (M.Q.S.); (K.L.M.); (C.M.); (E.B.-L.)
- Parsons Corporation, Centreville, VA 20120, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20892, USA; (K.M.); (C.A.L.)
| | - Katherine L. Mallory
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.G.S.); (J.A.T.); (M.Q.S.); (K.L.M.); (C.M.); (E.B.-L.)
- Parsons Corporation, Centreville, VA 20120, USA
| | - Christopher Mann
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.G.S.); (J.A.T.); (M.Q.S.); (K.L.M.); (C.M.); (E.B.-L.)
- Parsons Corporation, Centreville, VA 20120, USA
| | - Christopher Karch
- Laboratory of Antigen and Adjuvants, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.K.); (Z.B.); (G.R.M.)
- Henry Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Zoltan Beck
- Laboratory of Antigen and Adjuvants, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.K.); (Z.B.); (G.R.M.)
- Henry Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Gary R. Matyas
- Laboratory of Antigen and Adjuvants, US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.K.); (Z.B.); (G.R.M.)
| | - Carole A. Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20892, USA; (K.M.); (C.A.L.)
| | - Elke Bergmann-Leitner
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.G.S.); (J.A.T.); (M.Q.S.); (K.L.M.); (C.M.); (E.B.-L.)
| | | | - Evelina Angov
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (C.G.S.); (J.A.T.); (M.Q.S.); (K.L.M.); (C.M.); (E.B.-L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-301-319-9614
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26
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Egarter S, Santos JM, Kehrer J, Sattler J, Frischknecht F, Mair GR. Gliding motility protein LIMP promotes optimal mosquito midgut traversal and infection by Plasmodium berghei. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 241:111347. [PMID: 33347893 PMCID: PMC7856051 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2020.111347] [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: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Substrate-dependent gliding motility is key to malaria transmission. It mediates host cell traversal, invasion and infection by Plasmodium and related apicomplexan parasites. The 110 amino acid-long cell surface protein LIMP is essential for P. berghei sporozoites where it is required for the invasion of the mosquito's salivary glands and the liver cells of the rodent host. Here we define an additional role for LIMP during mosquito invasion by the ookinete. limp mRNA is provided as a translationally repressed mRNP (messenger ribonucleoprotein) by the female gametocyte and the protein translated in the ookinete. Parasites depleted of limp (Δlimp) develop ookinetes with apparent normal morphology and no defect during in vitro gliding motility, and yet display a pronounced reduction in oocyst numbers; compared to wildtype 82 % more Δlimp ookinetes remain within the mosquito blood meal explaining the decrease in oocysts. As in the sporozoite, LIMP exerts a profound role on ookinete infection of the mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Egarter
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jorge M Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jessica Kehrer
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Sattler
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gunnar R Mair
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal; Iowa State University, Biomedical Sciences, Ames, IA, United States.
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27
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Diversify and Conquer: The Vaccine Escapism of Plasmodium falciparum. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111748. [PMID: 33171746 PMCID: PMC7694999 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last century, a great deal of effort and resources have been poured into the development of vaccines to protect against malaria, particularly targeting the most widely spread and deadly species of the human-infecting parasites: Plasmodium falciparum. Many of the known proteins the parasite uses to invade human cells have been tested as vaccine candidates. However, precisely because of the importance and immune visibility of these proteins, they tend to be very diverse, and in many cases redundant, which limits their efficacy in vaccine development. With the advent of genomics and constantly improving sequencing technologies, an increasingly clear picture is emerging of the vast genomic diversity of parasites from different geographic areas. This diversity is distributed throughout the genome and includes most of the vaccine candidates tested so far, playing an important role in the low efficacy achieved. Genomics is a powerful tool to search for genes that comply with the most desirable attributes of vaccine targets, allowing us to evaluate function, immunogenicity and also diversity in the worldwide parasite populations. Even predicting how this diversity might evolve and spread in the future becomes possible, and can inform novel vaccine efforts.
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28
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Marques-da-Silva C, Peissig K, Kurup SP. Pre-Erythrocytic Vaccines against Malaria. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030400. [PMID: 32708179 PMCID: PMC7565498 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, caused by the protozoan Plasmodium, is a devastating disease with over 200 million new cases reported globally every year. Although immunization is arguably the best strategy to eliminate malaria, despite decades of research in this area we do not have an effective, clinically approved antimalarial vaccine. The current impetus in the field is to develop vaccines directed at the pre-erythrocytic developmental stages of Plasmodium, utilizing novel vaccination platforms. We here review the most promising pre-erythrocytic stage antimalarial vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Marques-da-Silva
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (C.M.-d.-S.); (K.P.)
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kristen Peissig
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (C.M.-d.-S.); (K.P.)
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Samarchith P. Kurup
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (C.M.-d.-S.); (K.P.)
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Correspondence:
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29
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Arévalo-Pinzón G, Garzón-Ospina D, Pulido FA, Bermúdez M, Forero-Rodríguez J, Rodríguez-Mesa XM, Reyes-Guarín LP, Suárez CF, Patarroyo MA. Plasmodium vivax Cell Traversal Protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites (CelTOS) Functionally Restricted Regions Are Involved in Specific Host-Pathogen Interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:119. [PMID: 32266169 PMCID: PMC7105572 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the injection of Plasmodium sporozoites by a female Anopheles mosquito into the dermis, they become engaged on a long journey to hepatic tissue where they must migrate through different types of cell to become established in parasitophorous vacuoles in hepatocytes. Studies have shown that proteins such as cell traversal protein for Plasmodium ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS) play a crucial role in cell-traversal ability. Although CelTOS has been extensively studied in various species and included in pre-clinical assays it remains unknown which P. vivax CelTOS (PvCelTOS) regions are key in its interaction with traversed or target cells (Kupffer or hepatocytes) and what type of pressure, association and polymorphism these important regions could have to improve their candidacy as important vaccine antigens. This work has described producing a recombinant PvCelTOS which was recognized by ~30% P. vivax-infected individuals, thereby confirming its ability for inducing a natural immune response. PvCelTOS' genetic diversity in Colombia and its ability to interact with HeLa (traversal cell) and/or HepG2 cell (target cell) external membrane have been assessed. One region in the PvCelTOS amino-terminal region and another in its C-terminus were seen to be participating in host-pathogen interactions. These regions had important functional constraint signals (ω < 0.3 and several sites under negative selection) and were able to inhibit specific rPvCelTOS binding to HeLa cells. This led to suggesting that sequences between aa 41-60 (40833) and 141-160 (40838) represent promising candidates for an anti-P. vivax subunit-based vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Arévalo-Pinzón
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundacion Instituto de Inmunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Diego Garzón-Ospina
- PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Fredy A Pulido
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundacion Instituto de Inmunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia
| | - Maritza Bermúdez
- Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundacion Instituto de Inmunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia
| | - Johanna Forero-Rodríguez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundacion Instituto de Immunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia
| | - Xandy M Rodríguez-Mesa
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundacion Instituto de Immunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia
| | - Leidy P Reyes-Guarín
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundacion Instituto de Immunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia
| | - Carlos F Suárez
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia.,Biomathematics Department, Fundacion Instituto de Immunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia.,Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundacion Instituto de Immunologia de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogota, Colombia
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Transcriptomics and proteomics reveal two waves of translational repression during the maturation of malaria parasite sporozoites. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4964. [PMID: 31673027 PMCID: PMC6823429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12936-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium sporozoites are transmitted from infected mosquitoes to mammals, and must navigate the host skin and vasculature to infect the liver. This journey requires distinct proteomes. Here, we report the dynamic transcriptomes and proteomes of both oocyst sporozoites and salivary gland sporozoites in both rodent-infectious Plasmodium yoelii parasites and human-infectious Plasmodium falciparum parasites. The data robustly define mRNAs and proteins that are upregulated in oocyst sporozoites (UOS) or upregulated in infectious sporozoites (UIS) within the salivary glands, including many that are essential for sporozoite functions in the vector and host. Moreover, we find that malaria parasites use two overlapping, extensive, and independent programs of translational repression across sporozoite maturation to temporally regulate protein expression. Together with gene-specific validation experiments, these data indicate that two waves of translational repression are implemented and relieved at different times during sporozoite maturation, migration and infection, thus promoting their successful development and vector-to-host transition. Here, the authors report transcriptomes and proteomes of oocyst sporozoite and salivary gland sporozoite stages in rodent-infectious Plasmodium yoelii parasites and human infectious Plasmodium falciparum parasites and define two waves of translational repression during sporozoite maturation.
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31
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Punde N, Kooken J, Leary D, Legler PM, Angov E. Codon harmonization reduces amino acid misincorporation in bacterially expressed P. falciparum proteins and improves their immunogenicity. AMB Express 2019; 9:167. [PMID: 31630257 PMCID: PMC6800875 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-019-0890-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Codon usage frequency influences protein structure and function. The frequency with which codons are used potentially impacts primary, secondary and tertiary protein structure. Poor expression, loss of function, insolubility, or truncation can result from species-specific differences in codon usage. “Codon harmonization” more closely aligns native codon usage frequencies with those of the expression host particularly within putative inter-domain segments where slower rates of translation may play a role in protein folding. Heterologous expression of Plasmodium falciparum genes in Escherichia coli has been a challenge due to their AT-rich codon bias and the highly repetitive DNA sequences. Here, codon harmonization was applied to the malarial antigen, CelTOS (Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites). CelTOS is a highly conserved P. falciparum protein involved in cellular traversal through mosquito and vertebrate host cells. It reversibly refolds after thermal denaturation making it a desirable malarial vaccine candidate. Protein expressed in E. coli from a codon harmonized sequence of P. falciparum CelTOS (CH-PfCelTOS) was compared with protein expressed from the native codon sequence (N-PfCelTOS) to assess the impact of codon usage on protein expression levels, solubility, yield, stability, structural integrity, recognition with CelTOS-specific mAbs and immunogenicity in mice. While the translated proteins were expected to be identical, the translated products produced from the codon-harmonized sequence differed in helical content and showed a smaller distribution of polypeptides in mass spectra indicating lower heterogeneity of the codon harmonized version and fewer amino acid misincorporations. Substitutions of hydrophobic-to-hydrophobic amino acid were observed more commonly than any other. CH-PfCelTOS induced significantly higher antibody levels compared with N-PfCelTOS; however, no significant differences in either IFN-γ or IL-4 cellular responses were detected between the two antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirdesh Kumar
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Niraj H. Tolia
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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33
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Pirahmadi S, Zakeri S, A Mehrizi A, D Djadid N, Raz AA, J Sani J, Abbasi R, Ghorbanzadeh Z. Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS) formulated with potent TLR adjuvants induces high-affinity antibodies that inhibit Plasmodium falciparum infection in Anopheles stephensi. Malar J 2019; 18:146. [PMID: 31014347 PMCID: PMC6480871 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2773-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium falciparum parasite is the most deadly species of human malaria, and the development of an effective vaccine that prevents P. falciparum infection and transmission is a key target for malarial elimination and eradication programmes. P. falciparum cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (PfCelTOS) is an advanced vaccine candidate. A comparative study was performed to characterize the immune responses in BALB/c mouse immunized with Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant PfCelTOS (rPfCelTOS) in toll-like receptor (TLR)-based adjuvants, CpG and Poly I:C alone or in combination (CpG + Poly I:C), followed by the assessment of transmission-reducing activity (TRA) of anti-rPfCelTOS antibodies obtained from different vaccine groups in Anopheles stephensi. Methods The aim of the current work was achieved by head-to-head comparison of the vaccine groups using conventional and avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence test (IFAT), and standard membrane feeding assay (SMFA). Results Comparing to rPfCelTOS alone, administration of rPfCelTOS with two distinct TLR-based adjuvants in vaccine mouse groups showed a significant increase in responses (antibody level, IgG subclass analysis, avidity, and Th1 cytokines) and was able to induce reasonable transmission-reducing activity. Also, comparable functional activity of anti-rPfCelTOS antibodies was found in group that received antigen in either CpG or Poly I:C (69.9%/20% and 73.5%/24.4%, respectively, reductions in intensity/prevalence). However, the vaccine group receiving rPfCelTOS in combination with CpG + Poly I:C showed a significant induction in antibody titers and inhibitory antibodies in oocysts development (78.3%/19.6% reductions in intensity/prevalence) in An. stephensi. Conclusions A key finding in this investigation is that rPfCelTOS administered alone in BALB/c mouse is poorly immunogenic, with relatively low IgG level, avidity, inhibitory antibodies, and mixed Th1/Th2 responses. However, immunological characteristic (IgG level, cytophilic IgG2a and IgG2b, avidity, and Th1 cytokines) and TRA of anti-rPfCelTOS significantly enhanced in the presence of co-administration of TLR-based adjuvants, confirming that targeting TLRs would be an effective means for the enhancement of inducing TRA against rPfCelTOS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-019-2773-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakineh Pirahmadi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Zakeri
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Akram A Mehrizi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Navid D Djadid
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas-Ali Raz
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jafar J Sani
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ronak Abbasi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ghorbanzadeh
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
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Dundas K, Shears MJ, Sinnis P, Wright GJ. Important Extracellular Interactions between Plasmodium Sporozoites and Host Cells Required for Infection. Trends Parasitol 2018; 35:129-139. [PMID: 30583849 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease, caused by Plasmodium parasites, that remains a major global health problem. Infection begins when salivary gland sporozoites are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Once within the host, sporozoites navigate through the dermis, into the bloodstream, and eventually invade hepatocytes. While we have an increasingly sophisticated cellular description of this journey, our molecular understanding of the extracellular interactions between the sporozoite and mammalian host that regulate migration and invasion remain comparatively poor. Here, we review the current state of our understanding, highlight the technical limitations that have frustrated progress, and outline how new approaches will help to address this knowledge gap with the ultimate aim of improving malaria treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Dundas
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory and Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Melanie J Shears
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Photini Sinnis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Gavin J Wright
- Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory and Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK.
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35
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Aliprandini E, Tavares J, Panatieri RH, Thiberge S, Yamamoto MM, Silvie O, Ishino T, Yuda M, Dartevelle S, Traincard F, Boscardin SB, Amino R. Cytotoxic anti-circumsporozoite antibodies target malaria sporozoites in the host skin. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:1224-1233. [PMID: 30349082 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0254-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the major surface protein of malaria sporozoites (SPZs), the motile and invasive parasite stage inoculated in the host skin by infected mosquitoes. Antibodies against the central CSP repeats of different plasmodial species are known to block SPZ infectivity1-5, but the precise mechanism by which these effectors operate is not completely understood. Here, using a rodent Plasmodium yoelii malaria model, we show that sterile protection mediated by anti-P. yoelii CSP humoral immunity depends on the parasite inoculation into the host skin, where antibodies inhibit motility and kill P. yoelii SPZs via a characteristic 'dotty death' phenotype. Passive transfer of an anti-repeat monoclonal antibody (mAb) recapitulates the skin inoculation-dependent protection, in a complement- and Fc receptor γ-independent manner. This purified mAb also decreases motility and, notably, induces the dotty death of P. yoelii SPZs in vitro. Cytotoxicity is species-transcendent since cognate anti-CSP repeat mAbs also kill Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum SPZs. mAb cytotoxicity requires the actomyosin motor-dependent translocation and stripping of the protective CSP surface coat, rendering the parasite membrane susceptible to the SPZ pore-forming-like protein secreted to wound and traverse the host cell membrane6. The loss of SPZ fitness caused by anti-P. yoelii CSP repeat antibodies is thus a dynamic process initiated in the host skin where SPZs either stop moving7, or migrate and traverse cells to progress through the host tissues7-9 at the eventual expense of their own life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joana Tavares
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Hoffmann Panatieri
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sabine Thiberge
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre de Production et d'Infection des Anophèles, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Marcio Massao Yamamoto
- Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI, Paris, France
| | - Tomoko Ishino
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Ehime University, Ehime, Japan
| | - Masao Yuda
- Department of Medical Zoology, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Sylvie Dartevelle
- Plateforme d'Ingénierie des Anticorps, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Silvia Beatriz Boscardin
- Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Rogerio Amino
- Unit of Malaria Infection & Immunity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
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Darvill N, Dubois DJ, Rouse SL, Hammoudi PM, Blake T, Benjamin S, Liu B, Soldati-Favre D, Matthews S. Structural Basis of Phosphatidic Acid Sensing by APH in Apicomplexan Parasites. Structure 2018; 26:1059-1071.e6. [PMID: 29910186 PMCID: PMC6084407 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii are obligate intracellular parasites that belong to the phylum of Apicomplexa and cause major human diseases. Their access to an intracellular lifestyle is reliant on the coordinated release of proteins from the specialized apical organelles called micronemes and rhoptries. A specific phosphatidic acid effector, the acylated pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein (APH) plays a central role in microneme exocytosis and thus is essential for motility, cell entry, and egress. TgAPH is acylated on the surface of the micronemes and recruited to phosphatidic acid (PA)-enriched membranes. Here, we dissect the atomic details of APH PA-sensing hub and its functional interaction with phospholipid membranes. We unravel the key determinant of PA recognition for the first time and show that APH inserts into and clusters multiple phosphate head-groups at the bilayer binding surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Darvill
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - David J Dubois
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sarah L Rouse
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tom Blake
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Stefi Benjamin
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; BioBank, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Steve Matthews
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; BioBank, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China.
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37
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Pirahmadi S, Zakeri S, Mehrizi AA, Djadid ND. Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of gene encoding cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS) vaccine candidate antigen in global Plasmodium falciparum populations. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 59:113-125. [PMID: 29391203 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (PfCelTOS) has been reported as one of the most attractive malaria vaccine candidate antigens. To design a broadly effective malaria vaccine based on this antigen, it is crucial to have adequate information on genetic diversity in global PfCelTOS. Therefore, the extent of sequence diversity at the full-length of the pfceltos was assessed among both natural P. falciparum isolates collected from Iran (n = 93) and from available global pfceltos sequence data retrieved from PlasmoDB database (n = 159). Also, recombination, natural selection, the degree of genetic differentiation as well as the predicted immunodominant regions in PfCelTOS were analyzed. In total, 40 SNPs (including 1 synonymous and 39 non-synonymous) were detected in 34 positions, as compared to 3D7 sequence, which led to 66 distinct haplotypes with different frequencies. Among those haplotypes, 34 (51.5%, excluded from further analysis) were singleton haplotype and mostly detected among Senegalese parasite isolates. PfCelt-1 was found as predominant haplotype (32.6% total frequency) that was only detected in Iranian P. falciparum isolates. Nucleotide diversity was low in French Guiana (0.00236 ± 0.00203) and Iranian (0.00259 ± 0.00048) P. falciparum isolates in comparison with African populations. Evidence for positive selection by host immunity and intragenic recombination were detected that are two key factors responsible for gene evolution and genetic diversity of pfceltos gene. The results of Fst analysis and haplotype network revealed that PfCelTOS antigen displayed evident genetic structure between geographical parasite populations. In conclusion, the present analysis demonstrates that there is a limited antigenic diversity and geographic variation in global PfCelTOS, and this finding may be associated with the critical function of this antigen in cell traversal of the parasite in sporozoite and ookinete. Besides, most of the predicted B- and T-cell epitopes were located in the conserved region of the gene, but most of the amino acid replacements were located at the C-terminal region of PfCelTOS. The obtained results in this investigation could provide knowledge for better design of PfCelTOS-based malaria vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakineh Pirahmadi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Zakeri
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Akram Abouie Mehrizi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Navid Dinparast Djadid
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, Pasteur Avenue, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
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38
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Garzón-Ospina D, Buitrago SP, Ramos AE, Patarroyo MA. Identifying Potential Plasmodium vivax Sporozoite Stage Vaccine Candidates: An Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection. Front Genet 2018; 9:10. [PMID: 29422913 PMCID: PMC5788960 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasite antigen genetic diversity represents a great obstacle when designing a vaccine against malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax. Selecting vaccine candidate antigens has been focused on those fulfilling a role in invasion and which are conserved, thus avoiding specific-allele immune responses. Most antigens described to date belong to the blood stage, thereby blocking parasite development within red blood cells, whilst studying antigens from other stages has been quite restricted. Antigens from different parasite stages are required for developing a completely effective vaccine; thus, pre-erythrocyte stage antigens able to block the first line of infection becoming established should also be taken into account. However, few antigens from this stage have been studied to date. Several P. falciparum sporozoite antigens are involved in invasion. Since 77% of genes are orthologous amongst Plasmodium parasites, P. vivax sporozoite antigen orthologs to those of P. falciparum might be present in its genome. Although these genes might have high genetic diversity, conserved functionally-relevant regions (ideal for vaccine development) could be predicted by comparing genetic diversity patterns and evolutionary rates. This study was thus aimed at searching for putative P. vivax sporozoite genes so as to analyse their genetic diversity for determining their potential as vaccine candidates. Several DNA sequence polymorphism estimators were computed at each locus. The evolutionary force (drift, selection and recombination) drawing the genetic diversity pattern observed was also determined by using tests based on polymorphism frequency spectrum as well as the type of intra- and inter-species substitutions. Likewise, recombination was assessed both indirectly and directly. The results showed that sporozoite genes were more conserved than merozoite genes evaluated to date. Putative domains implied in cell traversal, gliding motility and hepatocyte interaction had a negative selection signal, being conserved amongst different species in the genus. PvP52, PvP36, PvSPATR, PvPLP1, PvMCP1, PvTLP, PvCelTOS, and PvMB2 antigens or functionally restricted regions within them would thus seem promising vaccine candidates and could be used when designing a pre-erythrocyte and/or multi-stage vaccine against P. vivax to avoid allele-specific immune responses that could reduce vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Garzón-Ospina
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,PhD Programme in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sindy P Buitrago
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrea E Ramos
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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39
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Steel RWJ, Pei Y, Camargo N, Kaushansky A, Dankwa DA, Martinson T, Nguyen T, Betz W, Cardamone H, Vigdorovich V, Dambrauskas N, Carbonetti S, Vaughan AM, Sather DN, Kappe SHI. Plasmodium yoelii S4/CelTOS is important for sporozoite gliding motility and cell traversal. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20. [PMID: 29253313 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Gliding motility and cell traversal by the Plasmodium ookinete and sporozoite invasive stages allow penetration of cellular barriers to establish infection of the mosquito vector and mammalian host, respectively. Motility and traversal are not observed in red cell infectious merozoites, and we have previously classified genes that are expressed in sporozoites but not merozoites (S genes) in order to identify proteins involved in these processes. The S4 gene has been described as criticaly involved in Cell Traversal for Ookinetes and Sporozoites (CelTOS), yet knockout parasites (s4/celtos¯) do not generate robust salivary gland sporozoite numbers, precluding a thorough analysis of S4/CelTOS function during host infection. We show here that a failure of oocysts to develop or survive in the midgut contributes to the poor mosquito infection by Plasmodium yoelii (Py) s4/celtos¯ rodent malaria parasites. We rescued this phenotype by expressing S4/CelTOS under the ookinete-specific circumsporozoite protein and thrombospondin-related anonymous protein-related protein (CTRP) promoter (S4/CelTOSCTRP ), generating robust numbers of salivary gland sporozoites lacking S4/CelTOS that were suitable for phenotypic analysis. Py S4/CelTOSCTRP sporozoites showed reduced infectivity in BALB/c mice when compared to wild-type sporozoites, although they appeared more infectious than sporozoites deficient in the related traversal protein PLP1/SPECT2 (Py plp1/spect2¯). Using in vitro assays, we substantiate the role of S4/CelTOS in sporozoite cell traversal, but also uncover a previously unappreciated role for this protein for sporozoite gliding motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W J Steel
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ying Pei
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nelly Camargo
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Dorender A Dankwa
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Thomas Martinson
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Thao Nguyen
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Will Betz
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hayley Cardamone
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Vladimir Vigdorovich
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicholas Dambrauskas
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sara Carbonetti
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ashley M Vaughan
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - D Noah Sather
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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40
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Guerra AJ, Carruthers VB. Structural Features of Apicomplexan Pore-Forming Proteins and Their Roles in Parasite Cell Traversal and Egress. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9090265. [PMID: 28850082 PMCID: PMC5618198 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9090265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites cause diseases, including malaria and toxoplasmosis, in a range of hosts, including humans. These intracellular parasites utilize pore-forming proteins that disrupt host cell membranes to either traverse host cells while migrating through tissues or egress from the parasite-containing vacuole after replication. This review highlights recent insight gained from the newly available three-dimensional structures of several known or putative apicomplexan pore-forming proteins that contribute to cell traversal or egress. These new structural advances suggest that parasite pore-forming proteins use distinct mechanisms to disrupt host cell membranes at multiple steps in parasite life cycles. How proteolytic processing, secretion, environment, and the accessibility of lipid receptors regulate the membranolytic activities of such proteins is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo J Guerra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5620, USA.
| | - Vern B Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5620, USA.
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41
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Mehrizi AA, Torabi F, Zakeri S, Djadid ND. Limited genetic diversity in the global Plasmodium vivax Cell traversal protein of Ookinetes and Sporozoites (CelTOS) sequences; implications for PvCelTOS-based vaccine development. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 53:239-247. [PMID: 28600217 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell traversal protein of Ookinetes and Sporozoites (CelTOS) is a new malaria vaccine candidate antigen. Since one of the main challenges in malaria vaccine development is the extensive antigenic diversity of this parasite, local and global gene diversity analysis is of particular importance. Therefore, in this study, the genetic diversity of pvceltos gene was investigated among Iranian P. vivax isolates (n=46) and compared with available worldwide pvceltos sequences. One synonymous (C109A) and three amino acid replacements (V118L, K178T, and G179R) were observed in Iranian pvceltos sequences in compare with Sal-1 sequence leading to five haplotypes including PvCelt-A (GSVKGL, 13%), PvCelt-B (GSLKGL, 50%), PvCelt-C (GSLTGL, 17.4%), PvCelt-D (GSVTGL, 13%) and PvCelt-E (GSLTRL, 6.5%). However, amino acid replacements were observed in six positions (G10S, S40N, V118L/M, K178T, G179R/D and L181R) in PvCelTOS antigen of global isolates leading to 11 distinct haplotypes. PvCelt-A and PvCelt-B haplotypes were the most common haplotypes in the world. The overall nucleotide diversity for Iranian isolates was 0.00169, while, the level of nucleotide diversity was ranged from 0.00252 for Thailand to 0.00022 for Peru populations in the world. The analysis of SNPs in relation with the predicted immunodominant regions revealed that only K178T and G179R SNPs are located in putative B-cell epitopes. All replacements were located in CD4+ and/or CD8+ T-cell epitopes. However, the majority of epitopes are located in conserved regions. Knowing whether these changes may alter the affinity of the epitopes for antibodies and/or MHC molecules remains to be investigated in experimental studies. In conclusion, the present study showed a very limited genetic diversity in pvceltos gene among the global clinical isolates that can be regarded as a potential candidate antigen to apply for vivax-based malaria vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akram Abouie Mehrizi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fatemeh Torabi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Zakeri
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
| | - Navid Dinparast Djadid
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, P.O. Box 1316943551, Tehran, Iran
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Santos JM, Egarter S, Zuzarte-Luís V, Kumar H, Moreau CA, Kehrer J, Pinto A, da Costa M, Franke-Fayard B, Janse CJ, Frischknecht F, Mair GR. Malaria parasite LIMP protein regulates sporozoite gliding motility and infectivity in mosquito and mammalian hosts. eLife 2017; 6:e24109. [PMID: 28525314 PMCID: PMC5438254 DOI: 10.7554/elife.24109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliding motility allows malaria parasites to migrate and invade tissues and cells in different hosts. It requires parasite surface proteins to provide attachment to host cells and extracellular matrices. Here, we identify the Plasmodium protein LIMP (the name refers to a gliding phenotype in the sporozoite arising from epitope tagging of the endogenous protein) as a key regulator for adhesion during gliding motility in the rodent malaria model P. berghei. Transcribed in gametocytes, LIMP is translated in the ookinete from maternal mRNA, and later in the sporozoite. The absence of LIMP reduces initial mosquito infection by 50%, impedes salivary gland invasion 10-fold, and causes a complete absence of liver invasion as mutants fail to attach to host cells. GFP tagging of LIMP caused a limping defect during movement with reduced speed and transient curvature changes of the parasite. LIMP is an essential motility and invasion factor necessary for malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge M Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Saskia Egarter
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Zuzarte-Luís
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hirdesh Kumar
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Catherine A Moreau
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jessica Kehrer
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreia Pinto
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mário da Costa
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chris J Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gunnar R Mair
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
- Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
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Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Soares IF, Lopez-Camacho C, Martins da Silva JH, Perce-da-Silva DDS, Têva A, Ramos Franco AM, Pinheiro FG, Chaves LB, Pratt-Riccio LR, Reyes-Sandoval A, Banic DM, Lima-Junior JDC. Plasmodium vivax Cell-Traversal Protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites: Naturally Acquired Humoral Immune Response and B-Cell Epitope Mapping in Brazilian Amazon Inhabitants. Front Immunol 2017; 8:77. [PMID: 28223984 PMCID: PMC5293784 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS), a highly conserved antigen involved in sporozoite motility, plays an important role in the traversal of host cells during the preerythrocytic stage of Plasmodium species. Recently, it has been considered an alternative target when designing novel antimalarial vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum. However, the potential of Plasmodium vivax CelTOS as a vaccine target is yet to be explored. This study evaluated the naturally acquired immune response against a recombinant P. vivax CelTOS (PvCelTOS) (IgG and IgG subclass) in 528 individuals from Brazilian Amazon, as well as the screening of B-cell epitopes in silico and peptide assays to associate the breadth of antibody responses of those individuals with exposition and/or protection correlates. We show that PvCelTOS is naturally immunogenic in Amazon inhabitants with 94 individuals (17.8%) showing specific IgG antibodies against the recombinant protein. Among responders, the IgG reactivity indexes (RIs) presented a direct correlation with the number of previous malaria episodes (p = 0.003; r = 0.315) and inverse correlation with the time elapsed from the last malaria episode (p = 0.031; r = −0.258). Interestingly, high responders to PvCelTOS (RI > 2) presented higher number of previous malaria episodes, frequency of recent malaria episodes, and ratio of cytophilic/non-cytophilic antibodies than low responders (RI < 2) and non-responders (RI < 1). Moreover, a high prevalence of the cytophilic antibody IgG1 over all other IgG subclasses (p < 0.0001) was observed. B-cell epitope mapping revealed five immunogenic regions in PvCelTOS, but no associations between the specific IgG response to peptides and exposure/protection parameters were found. However, the epitope (PvCelTOSI136-E143) was validated as a main linear B-cell epitope, as 92% of IgG responders to PvCelTOS were also responders to this peptide sequence. This study describes for the first time the natural immunogenicity of PvCelTOS in Amazon individuals and identifies immunogenic regions in a full-length protein. The IgG magnitude was mainly composed of cytophilic antibodies (IgG1) and associated with recent malaria episodes. The data presented in this paper add further evidence to consider PvCelTOS as a vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cesar Lopez-Camacho
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | | | | | - Antônio Têva
- Laboratory of Immunodiagnostics, Department of Biological Sciences, National School of Public Health, Fiocruz , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | - Antônia Maria Ramos Franco
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease, National Institute of Amazonian Research , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Francimeire Gomes Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease, National Institute of Amazonian Research , Manaus , Brazil
| | - Lana Bitencourt Chaves
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
| | | | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, The Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Dalma Maria Banic
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
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York A. Busting out from the inside. Nat Rev Microbiol 2017; 15:66. [DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2016.202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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45
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Jimah JR, Schlesinger PH, Tolia NH. Membrane Lipid Screen to Identify Molecular Targets of Biomolecules. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2427. [PMID: 28932760 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins that bind to and disrupt cell membranes may target specific phospholipids. Here we describe a protocol to identify the lipid targets of proteins and biomolecules. First, we describe a screen to identify lipids in membranes that are specifically bound by the biomolecule of interest. Second, we describe a method for determining if the presence of these lipids within membranes is necessary for membrane disruption. The methods described here were used to determine that the malaria vaccine candidate CelTOS disrupts cell membranes by specifically targeting phosphatidic acid (Jimah et al., 2016). This protocol has a companion protocol: 'Liposome disruption assay to examine lytic properties of biomolecules' which can be applied to examine the ability of the biomolecule to disrupt membranes composed of the lipid target identified by following this protocol (Jimah et al., 2017).
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Jimah
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA
| | - Paul H Schlesinger
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA
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46
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Jimah JR, Schlesinger PH, Tolia NH. Liposome Disruption Assay to Examine Lytic Properties of Biomolecules. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2433. [PMID: 28932762 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins may have three dimensional structural or amino acid features that suggest a role in targeting and disrupting lipids within cell membranes. It is often necessary to experimentally investigate if these proteins and biomolecules are able to disrupt membranes in order to conclusively characterize the function of these biomolecules. Here, we describe an in vitro assay to evaluate the membrane lytic properties of proteins and biomolecules. Large unilamellar vesicles (liposomes) containing carboxyfluorescein at fluorescence-quenching concentrations are treated with the biomolecule of interest. A resulting increase in fluorescence due to leakage of the dye from liposomes and subsequent dilution in the buffer demonstrates that the biomolecule is sufficient for disrupting liposomes and membranes. Additionally, since liposome disruption may occur via pore-formation or via general solubilization of lipids similar to detergents, we provide a method to distinguish between these two mechanisms. Pore-formation can be identified and evaluated by examining the blockade of carboxyfluorescein release with dextran molecules that fit the pore. The methods described here were used to determine that the malaria vaccine candidate CelTOS and proapoptotic Bax disrupt liposomes by pore formation (Saito et al., 2000; Jimah et al., 2016). Since membrane lipid binding by a biomolecule precedes membrane disruption, we recommend the companion protocol: Jimah et al., 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Jimah
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA
| | - Paul H Schlesinger
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, USA
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