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Novel secretory pathways in Plasmodium?

The secretion of proteins from intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum into the infected host cell is still poorly understood. A recent proposal that two distinct, mutually exclusive, secretory compartments may exist within the parasite cell has received much attention. Denise Mattei, Gary Ward, Gordon Langsley and Klaus Lingelbach here critically discuss the data on which this model is based, and then they address a more general question: to what extent are unusual aspects of protein secretion in Plasmodium unique among eukaryotic cells?

Animals↗

Anemia and anti-erythrocyte antibodies developed after repeated injections of sonicated preparations of Plasmodium berghei and Babesia rodhaini.

Anemia developed in mice after repeated injections of sonicated preparations of Plasmodium berghei and Babesia rodhaini. Anti-erythrocyte antibodies were detected in sera by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and their levels rose as anemia developed. Administration of carbon particle suspension to block the mononuclear phagocyte system was effective to inhibit anemia induced by injections of sonicated parasite preparations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analyses were carried out to examine autoantigens on the surface of the erythrocyte membrane reacting to anti-erythrocyte antibodies. The anti-erythrocyte antibodies from mice injected with the sonicated P. berghei preparations bound specifically to three components of the erythrocyte membrane. The anti-erythrocyte antibodies produced by the sonicated B. rodhaini preparations also reacted with four components, two of which corresponded to those reacting after the injection of the sonicated P. berghei preparations. These results suggest that both P. berghei and B. rodhaini organisms have some materials capable of inducing production of the anti-erythrocyte antibodies which mediate erythrophagocytosis by macrophages of the mononuclear phagocyte system during Plasmodium and Babesia infections.

Anemia↗

Plasmodium falciparum normocyte binding protein (PfNBP-1) peptides bind specifically to human erythrocytes.

Plasmodium falciparum normocyte binding protein-1 (PfNBP-1), a Plasmodium vivax RBP-1 orthologue is expressed in the apical merozoite area. PfNBP-1 binds directly to human erythrocyte membrane in a sialic acid-dependent but trypsin-resistant way. Erythrocyte binding assays were done with synthetic peptides covering the sequence reported as PfNBP-1. Two specific erythrocyte high activity binding peptides were found: 101VFINDLDTYQYEYFYEWNQ(120), peptide 26332, and 181NTKETYLKELNKKKMLQNKK(200), peptide 26336. These two peptides' binding was saturable and presenting nanomolar affinity constants. The critical binding residues (those residues underlined and highlighted in bold) were determined by competition assays with glycine-scan analogue peptides. These peptides were able to block merozoite in vitro invasion of erythrocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunization against Plasmodium chabaudi malaria using combined formulations of apical membrane antigen-1 and merozoite surface protein-1.

The control of Plasmodium falciparum malaria by vaccination will require immunization with multiple parasite antigens effectively formulated in combination. In this regard, proteins expressed on the surface of blood-stage merozoites are attractive as vaccine targets given their functional importance in the invasion of erythrocytes and accessibility to serum antibodies. We have utilized a Plasmodium chabaudi vaccine model to begin to evaluate the efficacy of immunization with combined formulations of apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) and merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1). Using a pET/T7 RNA polymerase bacterial expression system, we have expressed, purified and refolded recombinant antigens representing the 54 kDa ectodomain of Pc AMA-1 and the 42 kDa C-terminus of Pc MSP-1. Immunization with recombinant Pc AMA-1+Pc MSP-1(42) induced a high level of protection against P. chabaudi malaria with protective efficacy varying with antigen dose, choice of adjuvant, and immunization protocol. Based on the reduction of P. chabaudi parasitemia, Alum proved effective for use with the combination of Pc AMA-1 and Pc MSP-1(42). The use of Quil A was similarly effective with single or combined antigen immunizations, particularly with low antigen dose. In general, serological analysis of prechallenge sera indicated a dominant IgG1 response. For a given formulation, immunization with the combination of Pc AMA-1 and Pc MSP-1(42) elicited IgG responses comparable to those observed following immunization with each antigen alone. However, prechallenge antibody titers alone were not predictive of protective efficacy. While Pc AMA-1 and Pc MSP-1(42) can be effectively formulated in combination, further study is needed to define measurable parameters of protective T cell and B cell responses induced by Pc AMA-1+Pc MSP-1(42) that are predictive of vaccine efficacy.

Animals↗

OM-174, a new adjuvant with a potential for human use, induces a protective response when administered with the synthetic C-terminal fragment 242-310 from the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium berghei.

The goal of this project was the evaluation of a novel immunomodulatory adjuvant for human use, OM-174, which is a soluble adjuvant derived from Escherichia coli lipid A. For this study, we used a synthetic peptide, known for its safety and reproducibility and the murine model of BALB/c mice. The long peptide (PbCS 242-310) used corresponds to the C-terminal region of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) that is the major protein on the surface of Plasmodium sporozoites. Subcutaneous injections of PbCS 242-310 in combination with soluble adjuvant OM-174 induced long lasting peptide-specific antibody titres comparable to those obtained by immunization with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA). The ex vivo evaluation of the CD8(+) T cell response by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay revealed that the injection of polypeptide with OM-174 adjuvant induced, compared to IFA, a similar and an eight-fold increased frequency of peptide-specific lymphocytes in the draining lymph-nodes and in the spleen, respectively. The CD8(+) T-cells are specific for the sequence PbCS 245-253, a well-known H-2K(d)-restricted CTL epitope, and are cytotoxic as shown in a chromium release assay. Immunization of BALB/c mice with this polypeptide in combination with adjuvant OM-174 conferred a protection after challenge with live Plasmodium berghei sporozoites.The strong antibody and CTL responses observed to a synthetic peptide in mice, the safety profile of the adjuvant and its extensive physico-chemical characterization suggest that OM-174 has a potential use in vaccine formulations for humans.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

The protective efficacy of MSP4/5 against lethal Plasmodium chabaudi adami challenge is dependent on the type of DNA vaccine vector and vaccination protocol.

The enhancement of immunogenicity of malarial DNA vaccines is important if they are to have practical application in protecting against blood-stage malaria. Here we describe three different DNA vaccine vector types used in conjunction with the blood-stage merozoite surface protein 4/5 (MSP4/5), the murine homologue of Plasmodium falciparum MSP4 and MSP5, in an attempt to enhance survival against lethal Plasmodium chabaudi adami DS blood-stage challenge. MSP4/5 was inserted into VR1020 (secretory), monocyte-chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) (chemoattractant), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) (lymph node targeting) vectors. Mice were immunized intradermally via gene-gun, IM injection, or boosting with recombinant MSP4/5 protein. Antibody responses after boosting were predominantly of the IgG1 and IgE isotypes, with low avidity antibodies produced in DNA primed groups. Despite antibody responses comparable to recombinant protein immunization, boosting mice primed with antigens encoded by MCP-3 and CTLA4 vectors did not enhance survival compared to vector control groups. Gene-gun vaccination using VR1020/MSP4/5 followed by recombinant MSP4/5 boosting, or gene-gun DNA vaccination alone using MCP-3/MSP4/5, resulted in enhanced survival compared to empty vector control mice. The results suggest that the enhancement of survival against lethal blood-stage malaria challenge after utilizing MSP4/5 DNA vaccination is therefore highly dependent on the route and type of vaccine vector employed.

Animals↗

[In vivo sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to amino-4-quinolines and sulfadoxine pyrimethamine in Agou (Ivory Coast)].

A comparative study of the in vivo sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to amodiaquine versus chloroquine has been made among children in Agou (south Côte d'Ivoire). In case of resistance to these drugs, the association of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was administered and followed by a J14 checking. We have noticed: (1) 8.47% of amodiaquine resistance versus 36.96% of chloroquine resistance (all these resistances are from type II), (2) a good clinical efficiency of the 4 amino quinolines. Only 1.69% of the subjects having resistant stocks to amodiaquine have gone feverish down to J7 whereas 10.47% of subjects have clinically resisted to chloroquine, (3) a good tolerance of drugs and an excellent clinical and parasitological efficiency of the second intention treatment. These data are in favour of using first the 4 amino quinolines (particularly the amodiaquine) in the treatment of simple bout of malaria to Plasmodium falciparum in this region. In case of resistance to these drugs, we recommend the combination sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

Adolescent↗

Identification and recombinant expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum.

The gene coding for the cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH; EC 1.2.1.12) was isolated from Plasmodium falciparum. The gene contains 1 intron and the A+T content is characteristic for the codon usage of P. falciparum. The predicted open reading frame codes for 337 amino acids (36651Da) and is 63.5% identical to the human erythrocytic GAPDH. GAPDH sequences from several field isolates of P. falciparum displayed 100% conservation. Phylogenetic analysis supports the hypothesis that dinoflagellates and Plasmodium are closely related. The protein encoded by the pfGAPDH was expressed recombinantly in Escherichia coli and exhibited enzymatic activity with NAD(+) but not with NADP(+) as cofactor. Antiserum raised against the recombinantly expressed enzyme detected specifically all developmental stages of cultured P. falciparum blood-stage parasites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Diversity in the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein gene (TRAP) of Plasmodium vivax.

We analyzed 22 clinical isolates of Plasmodium vivax from Thailand and 17 from Brazil to investigate the extent of sequence variation in the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein of Plasmodium vivax (PvTRAP), a homologue of P. falciparum TRAP (PfTRAP) which has been considered to be a promising vaccine candidate. In total 54 haplotypes were identified from 73 distinct gene clones. Coexistence of different PvTRAP in circulation occurred in 10 and 13 isolates from Thailand and Brazil, respectively. Forty out of 48 substituted nucleotides are non-synonymous changes. Most of the substituted residues reside in the von Willebrand factor type A-domain (region II), a sulfated glycosaminoglycan-binding domain (region III) and a proline-rich region (region IV). All nucleotide substitutions are dimorphic. Two haplotypes from Thailand contain an inserted sequence encoding aspartic acid-serine-proline in the proline-rich region. Sequence analysis has revealed that nucleotide diversity in PvTRAP is low although Brazilian isolates display a higher degree of variation than those from Thailand. Phylogenetic construction using the neighbor joining method has shown that most of the Thai and the Brazilian isolates appear to be mainly clustered into distinct groups. Significantly greater than expected values of the mean number of non-synonymous (d(n)) than synonymous (d(s)) nucleotide substitutions per site were observed in regions II and III of PvTRAP. Analysis of the published PfTRAP sequences has shown a similar finding in regions II and IV suggesting that positive selection operates on the regions. Hence, different regions in PvTRAP and PfTRAP could be under different pressures in terms of immune selection, structural and/or functional constraints.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of transcriptomes of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum using full-length enriched library: identification of novel genes and diverse transcription start sites of messenger RNAs.

Now that the sequencing of the complete genome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is now underway, importance of analyses of complementary DNAs (cDNAs) is looming up. We constructed a full-length-enriched cDNA library from erythrocytic stage P. falciparum using the 'oligo-capping' method (Nucleic Acids Res. 29 (2001) 70). In this report we describe the novel genes identified using this library and detailed characterization of transcriptional start site of knob-associated histidine rich protein gene. Contrary to the previous report we conclude all the transcripts of plasmodium genes have diverse start sites. Sequence comparisons between the cDNAs and the complete sequences of chromosomes 2 identified three novel genes that had been missed by computational predictions. Moreover, analysis of transcriptional start sites revealed that the average length of the 5' untranslated region was 346 nt, which is much longer than that in humans. The transcriptional start sites of all the genes studied were far more diverse than those of human genes. These observations may reflect unique mechanism(s) of gene expression in this organism, which has an extremely AT-rich genome.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Preparation of beta-artemether liposomes, their HPLC-UV evaluation and relevance for clearing recrudescent parasitaemia in Plasmodium chabaudi malaria-infected mice.

Egg phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol liposome formulations containing the antimalarial drug beta-artemether have been prepared and analyzed for their encapsulating capacity, chemical stability, leakage, in vitro release and their therapeutic efficiency against Plasmodium chabaudi infection. A HPLC-UV analysis of beta-artemether liposomes without derivatisation was achieved. A good linearity of y=4437.7 x+469.01 (R(2)=0.9999) with a detection limit of 2 microg ml(-1) was reached. Prior to this, liposomal formulations composed of different molar ratios of EPC-CHOL were prepared to select beta-artemether crystal-free liposome preparations. The formulation corresponding to 4:3 and a total concentration of 300 mg lipids ml(-1) buffer (pH 7.2), which could incorporate as much as 1.5 mg beta-artemether was selected for therapy. A trapping efficiency of nearly 100% was reached, the drug being located in the lipid bilayers. A dialysis test demonstrated that the drug could be reversibly released from the liposomes, reaching equilibrium within 24 h. After 3 months storage at 4 degrees C, no leakage of beta-artemether had occurred indicating a high stability of the liposomes. These liposomes were used to treat mice infected with the virulent rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi, with a 100% cure by clearing the recrudescent parasitaemia.

Animals↗

Mitogenic activity of soluble preparations from Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes to L3T4+, Lyt2- and L3T4-, Lyt2+ T-cell subsets.

The mitogenic activity of soluble preparations of Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes (PBEP) in cultures of T or non-T cells isolated from spleens of naive mice was investigated. The proportion of cells at each phase in the cell cycle was examined by flow cytometry after incubation with various concentrations of PBEP; the proliferation index (PI-cell numbers at S, G2 and M phases/cell numbers at all phases x 100) was calculated. An addition of PBEP led to significant increases in the PI levels of T cells, but not in those of non-T cells. Moreover, when PBEP were added to L3T4+, Lyt2- (helper) or L3T4-, Lyt2+ (suppressor) T-cell fractions separated from rosette-forming T cells in spleens, significant increases in PI levels were detectable in both helper and suppressor T-cell cultures. These results indicate that PBEP have a mitogenic activity directed to both helper and suppressor T-cell fractions isolated from spleens of naive mice and that PBEP or Plasmodium parasites may in this way induce complicated immune responses during malaria infection.

Animals↗

Structure of Plasmodium vivax dihydrofolate reductase determined by homology modeling and molecular dynamics refinement.

The structure of Plasmodium vivax dihydrofolate reductase (PvDHFR), a potentially important target for antimalarial chemotherapy, was determined by means of homology modeling and molecular dynamics refinement. The structure proved to be consistent with DHFRs of known crystal structure. The comparison of the complexes of the antifolate inhibitor pyrimethamine bound at the active sites of PvDHFR and PfDHFR, the related enzyme from Plasmodium falciparum, prospected the possibility of using structure-based drug design to develop inhibitors that are effective against both malarial enzymes. This study constitutes a first step toward understanding of the antifolate-PvDHFR molecular interactions and possible rationalization of resistance in vivax malaria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Triosephosphate isomerase from Plasmodium falciparum: the crystal structure provides insights into antimalarial drug design.

BACKGROUND: Malaria caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a major public health concern. The parasite lacks a functional tricarboxylic acid cycle, making glycolysis its sole energy source. Although parasite enzymes have been considered as potential antimalarial drug targets, little is known about their structural biology. Here we report the crystal structure of triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) from P. falciparum at 2.2 A resolution. RESULTS: The crystal structure of P. falciparum TIM (PfTIM), expressed in Escherichia coli, was determined by the molecular replacement method using the structure of trypanosomal TIM as the starting model. Comparison of the PfTIM structure with other TIM structures, particularly human TIM, revealed several differences. In most TIMs the residue at position 183 is a glutamate but in PfTIM it is a leucine. This leucine residue is completely exposed and together with the surrounding positively charged patch, may be responsible for binding TIM to the erythrocyte membrane. Another interesting feature is the occurrence of a cysteine residue at the dimer interface of PfTIM (Cys13), in contrast to human TIM where this residue is a methionine. Finally, residue 96 of human TIM (Ser96), which occurs near the active site, has been replaced by phenylalanine in PfTIM. CONCLUSIONS: Although the human and Plasmodium enzymes share 42% amino acid sequence identity, several key differences suggest that PfTIM may turn out to be a potential drug target. We have identified a region which may be responsible for binding PfTIM to cytoskeletal elements or the band 3 protein of erythrocytes; attachment to the erythrocyte membrane may subsequently lead to the extracellular exposure of parts of the protein. This feature may be important in view of a recent report that patients suffering from P. falciparum malaria mount an antibody response to TIM leading to prolonged hemolysis. A second approach to drug design may be provided by the mutation of the largely conserved residue (Ser96) to phenylalanine in PfTIM. This difference may be of importance in designing specific active-site inhibitors against the enzyme. Finally, specific inhibition of PfTIM subunit assembly might be possible by targeting Cys13 at the dimer interface. The crystal structure of PfTIM provides a framework for new therapeutic leads.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Molecular basis and structure-activity relationships of the Duffy blood group antigens: chemokine and Plasmodium vivax receptors].

Duffy blood group antigens are of major interest in clinical medicine as they are not only involved in blood transfusion risks and occasionally in neonatal hemolytic disease, but also in the invasion of red blood cells by the hemoparasitic Plasmodium vivax. The FY locus maps to chromosome 1q22-q23, and is composed of 4 alleles: FY*A and FY*B (coding for the Fya and Fyb antigens, respectively), FY*X and FY*Fy. The Duffy antigens are carried by a 336 amino-acid glycoprotein named the Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) that can bind with high affinity selected members of the CXC and CC classes of chemokines. Today, the genetic bases of the Duffy system have been characterized. The identification of the polymorphisms associated with the 4 alleles FY*A, FY*B, FY*Fy and FY*X has led to the development of a complete genotyping of the Duffy system by PCR, which increases the safety and lessens the risk of blood transfusion, and is useful in determining feto-maternal incompatibilities and in genetic filiation analyses. DARC is not solely expressed in erythroid cells: the same polypeptide isoform is found on the surface of endothelial cells of post-capillary venules throughout the body and also on the surface of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, although it is encoded by different RNA messengers in each case, i.e., 1.35 and 7.5 kb, respectively. The preliminary analyses of receptor-ligand interaction have shown the existence of a chemokine-binding pocket defined by the close proximity of the first and fourth transmembrane domains of the DARC protein, and also by the importance of the N-terminal extracellular region for the binding of Plasmodium vivax merozoites.

Alleles↗

Immune responses mediating survival of naive BALB/c mice experimentally infected with lethal rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis.

The rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis is known to cause fatal malaria infections in BALB/c mice. However, we found that nearly 5% of inbred BALB/c mice could overcome primary infections initiated with lethal inoculum of P. y. nigeriensis asexual blood-stages, without any experimental intervention. These 'survivor' mice developed peak parasitemia levels of about 5% and successfully resolved their infections in about two weeks time; infected blood collected during the descending phase of infection in these mice and subinoculated in naive recipients resulted in a normal lethal course of infection. Typically, the parasites in survivor mice looked 'sick' compared to those in the susceptible mice. In experiments to define temporal basis of this protection, we found that purified splenic B cells isolated from such a survivor mouse, plus T cells from an infected or naive mouse, could adoptively transfer this protection to an X-irradiated, naive mouse against a lethal parasite challenge. Purified T cells or B cells alone from the survivor mouse donor provided no protection to the X-irradiated, naive recipient. Passive transfer of sera collected from survivor mice animals a week after recovery from infection was also able to substantially alter the course of preestablished P. y. nigeriensis infection. These findings are discussed in the light of recent reports on the genetic control of blood parasitemia in mouse malaria models. In the generally lethal malaria infections such as those caused by P. y. nigeriensis in mice and by Plasmodium falciparum in naive children, it is not clear what constitutes a protective immune response in cases which survive primary infections without any experimental or therapeutic intervention. An understanding of these mechanisms and their regulation would help design better vaccination strategies.

Animals↗

Polar Plasmodium falciparum lipids induce lipogenesis in rat adipocytes in vitro.

Previous studies have shown that 'toxic malarial antigens' released by Plasmodium yoelii can induce hypoglycaemia in mice and act synergistically with insulin in stimulating lipogenesis in rat adipocytes in vitro. In this study, it was shown that similar bioactivity could be detected in Plasmodium falciparum culture supernatant, and the molecular basis of this activity was further investigated. Boiled spent culture medium from P. falciparum cultures ('BS-Pf') (exclusively released into the culture supernatant when schizonts rupture) acts in synergy with insulin to increase lipogenesis in a rat adipocyte assay by more than 250% (P < 0.001). Control preparations prepared from non-parasitized erythrocytes grown under similar conditions had no effect (P < 0.001). While contamination with mycoplasma has previously been shown to interfere with the interpretation of data obtained with other molecules thought to be released from P. falciparum in culture, including those inducing TNF-alpha and NO production by macrophages, such contamination was unequivocally ruled out here. BS-Pf alone did not stimulate the lipogenesis in short-term assays (less than 4 h), while long-term exposure of rat adipocytes to BS-Pf alone (12-24 h) caused a stimulation of lipogenesis at a level comparable to that observed with insulin. Furthermore, lipogenesis-inducing activity was also detected in the serum of squirrel monkeys infected with different species of malaria parasites (P. vivax, P. falciparum and P. brasilianum). Preliminary biochemical characterization showed that the biological activity was found in the solvent-extracted polar lipid fraction of boiled supernatant of P. falciparum cultures. All the different polar lipid fractions, collected from silica gel column chromatography, showed a comparable lipogenesis-inducing activity. Enzymatic treatment by phospholipase C of the lipid fraction, which co-migrated with the phosphatidylcholine standard, showed that the activity of the fraction was associated with the 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DAG) moieties released from polar lipids. When this exogenous 1,2-DAG was added to the adipocyte cultures (short- and long-term cultures), it induced stimulation of lipogenesis in rat adipocytes, while no lipogenic activity was obtained from bacterial polar lipids and 1,2-DAG isolated from unparasitized erythrocytes. The importance of these findings is discussed with reference to other toxic malarial antigens and also to the potential role of these molecules in the induction of hypoglycaemia in the severe forms of malaria.

Adipocytes↗

Serum factors governing intraerythrocytic development and cell cycle progression of Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria is clinically manifested only when the human malaria parasites in the genus Plasmodium enter the obligatory intraerythrocytic life cycle. Elucidation for the roles of the serum, the key nutrient, and its components is then deemed essential for thorough understanding of the proliferation of Plasmodium cells at the erythrocytic stage. Fractionation and analysis of serum and its components was performed by chromatography, solvent extraction, and subsequent reconstitution experiments. Only fractions containing serum albumin (SA) from the serum and purified intact bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed comparable growth promoting activity with human serum (HS). Delipidated BSA can only effect parasite growth after reconstitution with lipids extracted from intact BSA. Fatty acid (FA) species in the neutral lipid fraction from intact BSA proved likewise when reconstituted with delipidated BSA. Furthermore, the involved FA species have to come in a pair of one saturated and one unsaturated, with palmitic and oleic acids as the best combination. The results were further substantiated by morphological analysis as well as biochemical analysis of the DNA synthesis during the intraerythrocytic development. This study can be a basis to explore the molecular mechanism of lipid traffic within the parasitized red blood cell (RBC), which can be an important adjunct to the development of drugs for malaria therapy.

Animals↗