Pyronaridine and chloroquine responses in the K1 strain
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ABSTRACT: Pyronaridine (PN) and chloroquine (CQ) are structurally related anti-malarial drugs with primarily the same mode of action. However, PN is effective against several multidrug-resistant lines of Plasmodium falciparum, including CQ-resistant lines, suggestive of important operational differences between the two drugs. Synchronized trophozoite-stage cultures of P. falciparum strain K1 (CQ resistant) were exposed to 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of PN and CQ, and parasites were harvested from culture after 4 and 24 hours exposure. Global transcriptional changes effected by drug treatment were investigated using DNA microarrays. Plasmodium falciparum in vitro cultures were synchronized to trophozoite stage (22-24h post infection) and exposed to either CQ or PN at IC50 concentrations. 18 sample pairs (drug treated/untreated) were analyzed; 9 for CQ and 9 for PN. All drug-treated samples were labelled with Cy5 and untreated controls were labelled with Cy3.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE30867: Pyronaridine and chloroquine responses in the K1 strain GSE30869: Comparison of developmental stage transcripts in the K1 strain Refer to individual Series
Project description:Malaria parasites induce morphological and biochemical changes in the membranes of parasite-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) for propagation. Artemisinin combination therapies are the first-line antiplasmodials in endemic countries. However, the mechanism of action of artemisinin is unclear, and drug resistance decreases long-term efficacy. To understand whether artemisinin targets or interacts with iRBC membrane proteins, this study investigated the molecular changes caused by dihydroartemisin (DHA), an artemisinin derivative, in Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 using a combined transcriptomic and membrane proteomic profiling approach.
Project description:To identify the developmentally regulated genes, which could confound identification of PN and CQ drug responsive genes, RNA samples from drug-free synchronized cultures from ring, trophozoite, and schizont stages were individually labelled and hybridized with a pooled sample from the three stages. The data from this experiment were used to compare the developmental profile of the K1 strain with the data from other P. falciparum strains. 9 samples were obtained from three developmental stages of parasite development (3 each from ring, trophozoite and schizont synchronized parasites). Three independent cultures were obtained, synchronized on different days.
Project description:The aim of the study was to determine the effect of natural killer (NK) cells on the global gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum. FCR3-CSA-infected red blood cells (RBCs) were co-cultured for 24h with NK92. Prior to RNA extraction, the parasitized RBCs were separated via Ficoll from the lymphocyte fraction. Control cultures of parasites without NK cells were cultivated in parallel. In addition, the effect of the separation method was determined via a Ficoll control culture of FCR3-CSA that was passed over a Ficoll gradient. All three treatments were performed in triplicate. The RNA was reverse-transcribed and hybridized onto microarrays.
Project description:To help malaria parasites survive unpredictable host immune responses, it is known that genes for surface proteins express stochastically in Plasmodium falciparum. Here, we demonstrate that gene expression for intracellular metabolic functions may be preordained and insensitive to specific metabolic perturbations. In a tightly-controlled, large microarray study involving over 100 hybridizations to isogenic drug-sensitive and drug-resistant parasites, the lethal antifolate WR99210 failed to over-produce RNA for the biochemically and genetically proven target dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS). Beyond the target, this transcriptional obstinacy carried over to the rest of the parasite genome, including genes for target pathways of folate and pyrimidine metabolism. Even 12 hours after commitment to death, the transcriptome remained faithful to evolutionarily entrained paths. A system-wide transcriptional disregard for metabolic perturbations in malaria parasites may contribute to selective vulnerabilities of the parasite to lethal antimetabolites. While large protective metabolic responses were not detected, DNA microarrays helped capture small, but reproducible drug-dependent perturbations within hours of drug exposure. In addition, in Plasmodium cells that had adapted to long-term drug exposure, DNA microarrays revealed new, large genome-wide transcriptional adjustments in the hard-wired transcriptional program itself. Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum treated with pyrimethamine RNA from pyrimethamine-treated parasite vs RNA from untreated control, Pyr-sensitive TM4/8.2 parasite strain, pyrimethamine concentration at IC50 and treated for 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h, microarray data were obtained from at least four hybridizations using RNA from at least two independent parasite cultures
Project description:To help malaria parasites survive unpredictable host immune responses, it is known that genes for surface proteins express stochastically in Plasmodium falciparum. Here, we demonstrate that gene expression for intracellular metabolic functions may be preordained and insensitive to specific metabolic perturbations. In a tightly-controlled, large microarray study involving over 100 hybridizations to isogenic drug-sensitive and drug-resistant parasites, the lethal antifolate WR99210 failed to over-produce RNA for the biochemically and genetically proven target dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS). Beyond the target, this transcriptional obstinacy carried over to the rest of the parasite genome, including genes for target pathways of folate and pyrimidine metabolism. Even 12 hours after commitment to death, the transcriptome remained faithful to evolutionarily entrained paths. A system-wide transcriptional disregard for metabolic perturbations in malaria parasites may contribute to selective vulnerabilities of the parasite to lethal antimetabolites. While large protective metabolic responses were not detected, DNA microarrays helped capture small, but reproducible drug-dependent perturbations within hours of drug exposure. In addition, in Plasmodium cells that had adapted to long-term drug exposure, DNA microarrays revealed new, large genome-wide transcriptional adjustments in the hard-wired transcriptional program itself. Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum treated with pyrimethamine RNA from pyrimethamine-treated parasite vs RNA from untreated control, Pyr-sensitive TM4/8.2 strain, pyrimethamine concentration at IC50 and treated for 0 h and 24 h, microarray data were obtained from at least four hybridizations using RNA from at lease two independent parasite cultures
Project description:Mutations in PfCRT confer chloroquine (CQ) resistance in P. falciparum. Point mutations in the homolog of the mammalian multidrug resistance gene (pfmdr1) can also modulate the levels of CQ response. However, parasites with the same pfcrt and pfmdr1 alleles exhibit a wide range of drug sensitivity, suggesting that additional genes contribute to levels of CQ resistance (CQR). We used 3 isogenic lines which have different drug resistance profiles corresponding to unique mutations in the pfcrt gene (106/1K76, 106/176I, and 106/76I-352K) to study changes in gene expression with and without CQ and genomic variations, i.e. copy number (CN) changes. RNA transcription levels from 45 genes were significantly altered in one or both mutants relative to the parent line. Of particular interest are genes encoding proteins involved in transport and/or regulation of cytoplasmic or compartmental pH, e.g. the V-type H+ pumping pyrophosphatase 2, Ca2+/H+ antiporter VCX1 and copy number changes in pfmdr1. A series of deletion (including 15 genes) also occurred at the beginning of chromosome 10. Experiment Overall Design: Three isogenic parasite lines were treated with and without 3h CQ and synchronized for total RNA extraction and hybridization to Affymetrix GeneChips® to study gene expression profiles. Genomic DNA from mixed culture was also extracted and hybridized to the same Affymetrix GeneChips. Total 18 total RNA samples (3 biological replicates per condition) and 6 genomic DNA samples (2 biological replicates per condition).
Project description:Pyronaridine (PN) and chloroquine (CQ) are structurally related anti-malarial drugs with primarily the same mode of action. However, PN is effective against several multidrug-resistant lines of Plasmodium falciparum, including CQ-resistant lines, suggestive of important operational differences between the two drugs. Synchronized trophozoite-stage cultures of P. falciparum strain K1 (CQ resistant) were exposed to 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of PN and CQ, and parasites were harvested from culture after 4 and 24 hours exposure. Global transcriptional changes effected by drug treatment were investigated using DNA microarrays.
Project description:Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, clinically presented as prolonged parasite clearance half-life, has been associated with a mutation in the NLI-interacting factor-like phosphatase PfNIF4, in addition to the mutations in the Kelch13 protein as the major determinant. We found that PfNIF4 predominant expression at the schizont stage and localized in the nuclei of the parasite. To elucidate the functions of PfNIF4 in P. falciparum, we performed PfNIF4 knockdown (KD) using the inducible ribozyme system. PfNIF4 KD attenuated merozoite invasion and affected gametocytogenesis. PfNIF4 KD parasites also showed significantly increased in vitro susceptibility to artemisinins. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PfNIF4 KD led to significant changes in the expression of approximately 10-25% of parasite genes during the IDC. At the schizont stage, down-regulated genes were significantly enriched in the invasion-related terms, while at the trophozoite and schizont stages, pathways associated with artemisinin resistance (e.g., mitochondrial function, membrane, and Kelch13 interactome) were also down-regulated. Consistent with PfNIF4 being a protein phosphatase, PfNIF4 KD resulted in an overall up-regulation of the phosphoproteome of infected erythrocytes. Specifically, we observed increased phosphorylation of Ser2/5 of the tandem repeats in the Rpb1 C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) upon PfNIF4 KD. Furthermore, using the TurboID-based proteomic approach, we identified that PfNIF4 interacted with the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) components, AP2-domain transcription factors, and chromatin-modifiers and binders. These findings suggest that PfNIF4 may act as the RNAPII CTD phosphatase, regulating the expression of general and parasite-specific cellular pathways during the blood-stage development.
Project description:Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, clinically presented as prolonged parasite clearance half-life, has been associated with a mutation in the NLI-interacting factor-like phosphatase PfNIF4, in addition to the mutations in the Kelch13 protein as the major determinant. We found that PfNIF4 predominant expression at the schizont stage and localized in the nuclei of the parasite. To elucidate the functions of PfNIF4 in P. falciparum, we performed PfNIF4 knockdown (KD) using the inducible ribozyme system. PfNIF4 KD attenuated merozoite invasion and affected gametocytogenesis. PfNIF4 KD parasites also showed significantly increased in vitro susceptibility to artemisinins. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PfNIF4 KD led to significant changes in the expression of approximately 10-25% of parasite genes during the IDC. At the schizont stage, down-regulated genes were significantly enriched in the invasion-related terms, while at the trophozoite and schizont stages, pathways associated with artemisinin resistance (e.g., mitochondrial function, membrane, and Kelch13 interactome) were also down-regulated. Consistent with PfNIF4 being a protein phosphatase, PfNIF4 KD resulted in an overall up-regulation of the phosphoproteome of infected erythrocytes. Specifically, we observed increased phosphorylation of Ser2/5 of the tandem repeats in the Rpb1 C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) upon PfNIF4 KD. Furthermore, using the TurboID-based proteomic approach, we identified that PfNIF4 interacted with the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) components, AP2-domain transcription factors, and chromatin-modifiers and binders. These findings suggest that PfNIF4 may act as the RNAPII CTD phosphatase, regulating the expression of general and parasite-specific cellular pathways during the blood-stage development.