Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monika Narwal, Shilpi Jain, Sumit Rathore, Asif Mohmmed
Summary: This study identified and characterized a novel protein, PfOPA3, in the Plasmodium parasite. PfOPA3 plays essential roles in maintaining mitochondrial function and homeostasis, as well as in parasite development and division. The downregulation of PfOPA3 results in defects in mitochondrial activity, parasite nuclear division, and generation of progeny, highlighting the importance of PfOPA3 for parasite survival during the blood stages of malaria.
Article
Microbiology
Mohd Kamil, Umit Y. Kina, Gozde Deveci, Sevim N. Akyuz, Ilknur Yilmaz, Ahmed S. I. Aly
Summary: Positively-charged polyamines are essential for the replication of eukaryotic cells, including parasitic protozoa and cancer cells. This study identifies SpdS as an essential enzyme for the blood-stage growth of malaria parasite, with a specific mitochondrial localization. SpdS could be a potential drug target against malaria.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Abigail J. Perrin, Claudine Bisson, Peter A. Faull, Matthew J. Renshaw, Rebecca A. Lees, Roland A. Fleck, Helen R. Saibil, Ambrosius P. Snijders, David A. Baker, Michael J. Blackmanm
Summary: The protein SEA1 in Plasmodium falciparum plays a crucial role in the correct segregation of replicated DNA and formation of daughter merozoites during parasite development. Disruption of SEA1 expression results in defective merozoite development with some lacking nuclei, impacting egress. These findings suggest that SEA1 acts as an essential regulator in ensuring proper packaging of nuclei within merozoites, rather than directly facilitating egress.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jessica Poole, Lauren E. Hartley-Tassell, Christopher J. Day, Danielle Stanisic, Penny L. Groves, Sumana Chakravarty, B. Kim Lee Sim, Stephen L. Hoffman, Joe Tiralongo, Nicolai Bovin, Denise L. Doolan, Michael P. Jennings
Summary: The transmission of Plasmodium spp. sporozoites to the mammalian host is crucial for the development of malaria, yet the exact route of transmission and the host glycan structures involved are not fully understood. By analyzing the glycan structures recognized and bound by sporozoites from P. falciparum and P. yoelii, this study identified key host glycan structures for human and rodent Plasmodium spp. sporozoites. Understanding how these sporozoites interact with specific glycan structures could offer insight into the infectious disease and aid in the development of effective therapeutics.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xinshui Tan, Caihong Zheng, Yinghua Zhuang, Pengpeng Jin, Fengchao Wang
Summary: The m6A reader PRRC2A plays a critical role in male fertility and meiotic cell cycle. It regulates RNA abundance and translation efficiency of target transcripts, especially spermatogonia-specific ones. PRRC2A also interacts with proteins involved in mRNA metabolism and translation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Xueyan Hu, Jie Zhao, Junhui Zhao, Ence Yang, Mozhi Jia
Summary: The study found that during the blood stage of the parasite, patients with malaria exhibit activated immune responses, aberrant metabolic processes, and tissue remodeling changes in the liver, providing a systematic outline of liver responses during Plasmodium infection.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Takaaki Yuguchi, Bernard N. Kanoi, Hikaru Nagaoka, Toyokazu Miura, Daisuke Ito, Hiroyuki Takeda, Takafumi Tsuboi, Eizo Takashima, Hitoshi Otsuki
Summary: Erythrocyte recognition and invasion play a critical role in the intra-erythrocytic development of Plasmodium spp. parasites, with EBL proteins involved in tight junction formation. PyEBL was found to specifically interact with basigin, shedding light on its role in modulating the virulence of P. yoelii. This discovery offers new insights into the mechanisms of malaria infection and potential interventions.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Luoluo Wang, Jian Wu, Runzhou Liu, Wenjun Chen, Zhichang Pang, Fan Zhou, Lu Xia, Jia Huang, Tao Pan, Xin-zhuan Su, Xiaoyun Wang
Summary: Malaria parasite infection significantly alters m(6)A mRNA modification and gene expression in the host spleen, and reprograms host immune response pathways by regulating m(6)A modification enzymes. This study represents the first characterization of host spleen m(6)A methylome triggered by malaria parasite infections, highlighting the importance of m(6)A modifications in host-parasite interactions.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ana Karla Cepeda Diaz, Rachel M. Rudlaff, Madeline Farringer, Jeffrey D. Dvorin, Nirbhay Kumar
Summary: The protein PfIMC1g is essential for the asexual replication of Plasmodium falciparum. It is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of the parasite and protecting it from damage during the process of internalization. Unlike other alveolins, PfIMC1g does not play a significant role in determining cell shape.
Article
Oncology
Phulwanti Kumari Sharma, Inderjeet Kalia, Vibha Kaushik, Daniela Bruennert, Afshana Quadiri, Mohammad Kashif, Kirti Raj Chahar, Akhil Agrawal, Agam Prasad Singh, Pankaj Goyal
Summary: The study identified STK35L1 as a host kinase that plays a crucial role in malaria's liver stage by being highly upregulated during Plasmodium berghei infection in hepatocytes and suppressing sporozoite infection.
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rebecca L. Clements, Alexander A. Morano, Francesca M. Navarro, James P. McGee, Esrah W. Du, Vincent A. Streva, Scott E. Lindner, Jeffrey D. Dvorin
Summary: This study identifies a basal complex protein, PfBLEB, as a key player in gametocytogenesis. Parasites lacking PfBLEB are unable to form mature gametocytes, highlighting the importance of PfBLEB. The study also provides a potential molecular target for the eradication of malaria transmission.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hongyan Xie, Shihao Xie, Mei Wang, Haixia Wei, He Huang, Anqi Xie, Jiajie Li, Chao Fang, Feihu Shi, Quan Yang, Yanwei Qi, Zhinan Yin, Xinhua Wang, Jun Huang
Summary: This study explores the role of gamma delta T cells in malaria infection and finds that these cells can promote both cellular and humoral immune responses. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, the study reveals the diversity of gamma delta T cells in the spleen. Additionally, the depletion of gamma delta T cells has a negative impact on the immune response in mice.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kieran Tebben, Aliou Dia, David Serre
Summary: This study evaluates a reference data set that can be used to estimate the proportions of different stages of malaria parasites in infected human blood samples. This allows for accurate gene expression analysis and correction of biases caused by differences in cell composition.
Article
Biology
Abhinay Ramaprasad, Paul-Christian Burda, Enrica Calvani, Aaron J. Sait, Susana Alejandra Palma-Duran, Chrislaine Withers-Martinez, Fiona Hackett, James Macrae, Lucy Collinson, Tim Wolf Gilberger, Michael J. Blackman
Summary: The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum synthesizes phospholipids to replicate within red blood cells, and the choline required for phosphatidylcholine (PC) biosynthesis primarily comes from host serum lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC). However, the enzyme(s) responsible for breaking down lysoPC for free choline synthesis are unknown. This study identifies a parasite glycerophosphodiesterase (PfGDPD) that is essential for parasite proliferation and plays a critical role in PC biosynthesis and parasite survival.
Review
Microbiology
Carola Schafer, Gigliola Zanghi, Ashley M. Vaughan, Stefan H. I. Kappe
Summary: Plasmodium vivax, the most widespread human malaria parasite, can form latent liver stages known as hypnozoites which can activate weeks, months, or even years after the primary infection, causing relapses of blood stage infection. Eliminating hypnozoites is a major obstacle for malaria treatment and eradication as they are undetectable and unaffected by most antimalarial drugs.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MICROBIOLOGY, VOL 75, 2021
(2021)