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Plaza DF, Zerebinski J, Broumou I, Lautenbach MJ, Ngasala B, Sundling C, Färnert A. A genomic platform for surveillance and antigen discovery in Plasmodium spp. using long-read amplicon sequencing. Cell Rep Methods 2023; 3:100574. [PMID: 37751696 PMCID: PMC10545912 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Many vaccine candidate proteins in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are under strong immunological pressure and confer antigenic diversity. We present a sequencing and data analysis platform for the genomic surveillance of the insertion or deletion (indel)-rich antigens merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1), MSP2, glutamate-rich protein (GLURP), and CSP from P. falciparum using long-read circular consensus sequencing (CCS) in multiclonal malaria isolates. Our platform uses 40 PCR primers per gene to asymmetrically barcode and identify multiclonal infections in pools of up to 384 samples. With msp2, we validated the method using 235 mock infections combining 10 synthetic variants at different concentrations and infection complexities. We applied this strategy to P. falciparum isolates from a longitudinal cohort in Tanzania. Finally, we constructed an analysis pipeline that streamlines the processing and interpretation of epidemiological and antigenic diversity data from demultiplexed FASTQ files. This platform can be easily adapted to other polymorphic antigens of interest in Plasmodium or any other human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Fernando Plaza
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Julia Zerebinski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ioanna Broumou
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maximilian Julius Lautenbach
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Billy Ngasala
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam 57RF+V8, Tanzania
| | - Christopher Sundling
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Färnert
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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Seow J, Das SC, Morales RAV, Ataide R, Krishnarjuna B, Silk M, Chalmers DK, Richards J, Anders RF, MacRaild CA, Norton RS. Guiding the Immune Response to a Conserved Epitope in MSP2, an Intrinsically Disordered Malaria Vaccine Candidate. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:855. [PMID: 34451980 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9080855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The malaria vaccine candidate merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) has shown promise in clinical trials and is in part responsible for a reduction in parasite densities. However, strain-specific reductions in parasitaemia suggested that polymorphic regions of MSP2 are immuno-dominant. One strategy to bypass the hurdle of strain-specificity is to bias the immune response towards the conserved regions. Two mouse monoclonal antibodies, 4D11 and 9H4, recognise the conserved C-terminal region of MSP2. Although they bind overlapping epitopes, 4D11 reacts more strongly with native MSP2, suggesting that its epitope is more accessible on the parasite surface. In this study, a structure-based vaccine design approach was applied to the intrinsically disordered antigen, MSP2, using a crystal structure of 4D11 Fv in complex with its minimal binding epitope. Molecular dynamics simulations and surface plasmon resonance informed the design of a series of constrained peptides that mimicked the 4D11-bound epitope structure. These peptides were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and used to immunise mice, with high to moderate antibody titres being generated in all groups. The specificities of antibody responses revealed that a single point mutation can focus the antibody response towards a more favourable epitope. This structure-based approach to peptide vaccine design may be useful not only for MSP2-based malaria vaccines, but also for other intrinsically disordered antigens.
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Lu C, Zheng X, Zhang W, Zhao H, MacRaild CA, Norton RS, Zhuang Y, Wang J, Zhang X. Interaction of merozoite surface protein 2 with lipid membranes. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:288-295. [PMID: 30588612 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) is a potential vaccine candidate against malaria, although its functional role is yet to be elucidated. Previous studies showed that MSP2 can interact with membranes, which may facilitate merozoite invasion into the host cell. The N-terminal 25 residues of MSP2 (MSP21-25 ), which may be aggregated on the merozoite surface, play a key role in the interaction with membranes. Here, we investigated the effects of MSP21-25 -membrane interactions on the conformation and aggregation of MSP21-25 and on membrane integrity, using nanodiscs and small unilamellar vesicles as mimetics of cell membranes. MSP21-25 -membrane interactions induced the peptide to form β-structure and to aggregate, depending on the lipid composition of the membrane. Nonfibrillar aggregates in turn disrupted the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghui Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, China
| | - Xue Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, China
| | - Hongxin Zhao
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Christopher A MacRaild
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Raymond S Norton
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Yonglong Zhuang
- Modern Experimental Technology Center, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Xuecheng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, China
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Feng G, Boyle MJ, Cross N, Chan JA, Reiling L, Osier F, Stanisic DI, Mueller I, Anders RF, McCarthy JS, Richards JS, Beeson JG. Human Immunization With a Polymorphic Malaria Vaccine Candidate Induced Antibodies to Conserved Epitopes That Promote Functional Antibodies to Multiple Parasite Strains. J Infect Dis 2018; 218:35-43. [PMID: 29584918 PMCID: PMC6904323 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Overcoming antigenic diversity is a key challenge in the development of effective Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccines. Strategies that promote the generation of antibodies targeting conserved epitopes of vaccine antigens may provide protection against diverse parasites strains. Understanding differences between vaccine-induced and naturally acquired immunity is important to achieving this goal. Methods We analyzed antibodies generated in a phase 1 human vaccine trial, MSP2-C1, which included 2 allelic forms of MSP2, an abundant vaccine antigen on the merozoite surface. Vaccine-induced responses were assessed for functional activity against multiple parasite strains, and cross-reactivity of antibodies was determined using competition ELISA and epitope mapping approaches. Results Vaccination induced cytophilic antibody responses with strain-transcending opsonic phagocytosis and complement-fixing function. In contrast to antibodies acquired via natural infection, vaccine-induced antibodies were directed towards conserved epitopes at the C-terminus of MSP2, whereas naturally acquired antibodies mainly targeted polymorphic epitopes. Functional activity of C-terminal-targeted antibodies was confirmed using monoclonal antibodies that promoted opsonic phagocytosis against multiple parasite strains. Conclusion Vaccination generated markedly different responses to polymorphic antigens than naturally acquired immunity and targeted conserved functional epitopes. Induction of antibodies targeting conserved regions of malaria antigens provides a promising vaccine strategy to overcome antigenic diversity for developing effective malaria vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoqian Feng
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Faith Osier
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne
- Centre for Geographic Medicine - Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville
| | - Robin F Anders
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne
| | - James S McCarthy
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston
| | - Jack S Richards
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Central Clinical School and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Central Clinical School and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Seow J, Morales RAV, MacRaild CA, Krishnarjuna B, McGowan S, Dingjan T, Jaipuria G, Rouet R, Wilde KL, Atreya HS, Richards JS, Anders RF, Christ D, Drinkwater N, Norton RS. Structure and Characterisation of a Key Epitope in the Conserved C-Terminal Domain of the Malaria Vaccine Candidate MSP2. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:836-846. [PMID: 28189425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) is an intrinsically disordered antigen that is abundant on the surface of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The two allelic families of MSP2, 3D7 and FC27, differ in their central variable regions, which are flanked by highly conserved C-terminal and N-terminal regions. In a vaccine trial, full-length 3D7 MSP2 induced a strain-specific protective immune response despite the detectable presence of conserved region antibodies. This work focuses on the conserved C-terminal region of MSP2, which includes the only disulphide bond in the protein and encompasses key epitopes recognised by the mouse monoclonal antibodies 4D11 and 9H4. Although the 4D11 and 9H4 epitopes are overlapping, immunofluorescence assays have shown that the mouse monoclonal antibody 4D11 binds to MSP2 on the merozoite surface with a much stronger signal than 9H4. Understanding the structural basis for this antigenic difference between these antibodies will help direct the design of a broad-spectrum and MSP2-based malaria vaccine. 4D11 and 9H4 were reengineered into antibody fragments [variable region fragment (Fv) and single-chain Fv (scFv)] and were validated as suitable models for their full-sized IgG counterparts by surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry. An alanine scan of the 13-residue epitope 3D7-MSP2207-222 identified the minimal binding epitope of 4D11 and the key residues involved in binding. A 2.2-Å crystal structure of 4D11 Fv bound to the eight-residue epitope NKENCGAA provided valuable insight into the possible conformation of the C-terminal region of MSP2 on the parasite. This work underpins continued efforts to optimise recombinant MSP2 constructs for evaluation as potential vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Seow
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Rodrigo A V Morales
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher A MacRaild
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Bankala Krishnarjuna
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Sheena McGowan
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Australia
| | - Tamir Dingjan
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Garima Jaipuria
- NMR Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Romain Rouet
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
| | - Karyn L Wilde
- National Deuteration Facility, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights 2234, Australia
| | - Hanudatta S Atreya
- NMR Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Jack S Richards
- Centre for Biomedical Research, The Burnet Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Robin F Anders
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - Daniel Christ
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst 2010, Australia
| | - Nyssa Drinkwater
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Australia
| | - Raymond S Norton
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia.
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Garcia M, Lipke P, Klotz S. Pathogenic microbial amyloids: Their function and the host response. OA Microbiol 2013; 1:2. [PMID: 25419543 PMCID: PMC4238391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Functional microbial amyloids are ubiquitous in nature and some contribute to the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Three pathogenic microbial amyloids are compared and their contribution to the disease process explained. The recent demonstration and visualization of fungal amyloid in human invasive candidiasis is discussed. Moreover, the binding of host serum amyloid P component to Candida functional amyloid in invasive human disease is presented in light of its possible role of masking fungi from the host defenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mc Garcia
- Department of Biology, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY
| | - Pn Lipke
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
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