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Immunisation against a serine protease inhibitor reduces intensity of Plasmodium berghei infection in mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT: The mosquito innate immune response is able to clear the majority of Plasmodium parasites. This immune clearance is controlled by a number of regulatory molecules including serine protease inhibitors (serpins). To determine whether such molecules could represent a novel target for a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine, we vaccinated mice with Anopheles gambiae serpin-2. Antibodies against Anopheles gambiae serpin-2 significantly reduced the infection of a heterologous Anopheles species (Anopheles stephensi) by Plasmodium berghei, however this effect was not observed with Plasmodium falciparum. Therefore, this approach of targeting regulatory molecules of the mosquito immune system may represent a novel approach to transmission-blocking malaria vaccines.

SUBMITTER: Williams AR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3775004 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Immunisation against a serine protease inhibitor reduces intensity of Plasmodium berghei infection in mosquitoes.

Williams Andrew R AR Zakutansky Sara E SE Miura Kazutoyo K Dicks Matthew D J MD Churcher Thomas S TS Jewell Kerry E KE Vaughan Aisling M AM Turner Alison V AV Kapulu Melissa C MC Michel Kristin K Long Carole A CA Sinden Robert E RE Hill Adrian V S AV Draper Simon J SJ Biswas Sumi S

International journal for parasitology 20130718 11

The mosquito innate immune response is able to clear the majority of Plasmodium parasites. This immune clearance is controlled by a number of regulatory molecules including serine protease inhibitors (serpins). To determine whether such molecules could represent a novel target for a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine, we vaccinated mice with Anopheles gambiae serpin-2. Antibodies against Anopheles gambiae serpin-2 significantly reduced the infection of a heterologous Anopheles species (Anophe ...[more]

PMID: 23872520

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Project description:BackgroundMalaria is a major global parasitic disease caused by species of the genus Plasmodium. Zygotes of Plasmodium spp. undergo meiosis and develop into tetraploid ookinetes, which differentiate into oocysts that undergo sporogony. Homologous recombination (HR) occurs during meiosis and introduces genetic variation. However, the mechanisms of HR in Plasmodium are unclear. In humans, the recombinases DNA repair protein Rad51 homolog 1 (Rad51) and DNA meiotic recombinase 1 (Dmc1) are required for HR and are regulated by breast cancer susceptibility protein 2 (BRCA2). Most eukaryotes harbor BRCA2 homologs. Nevertheless, these have not been reported for Plasmodium.MethodsA Brca2 candidate was salvaged from a database to identify Brca2 homologs in Plasmodium. To confirm that the candidate protein was Brca2, interaction activity between Plasmodium berghei (Pb) Brca2 (PbBrca2) and Rad51 (PbRad51) was investigated using a mammalian two-hybrid assay. To elucidate the functions of PbBrca2, PbBrca2 was knocked out and parasite proliferation and differentiation were assessed in mice and mosquitoes. Transmission electron microscopy was used to identify sporogony.ResultsThe candidate protein was conserved among Plasmodium species, and it was indicated that it harbors critical BRCA2 domains including BRC repeats, tower, and oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding-fold domains. The P. berghei BRC repeats interacted with PbRad51. Hence, the candidate was considered a Brca2 homolog. PbBrca2 knockout parasites were associated with reduced parasitemia with increased ring stage and decreased trophozoite stage counts, gametocytemia, female gametocyte ratio, oocyst number, and ookinete development in both mice and mosquitoes. Nevertheless, the morphology of the blood stages in mice and the ookinete stage was comparable to those of the wild type parasites. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that sporogony never progressed in Brca2-knockout parasites.ConclusionsBrca2 is implicated in nearly all Plasmodium life cycle stages, and especially in sporogony. PbBrca2 contributes to HR during meiosis.

Dataset Information

Immunisation against a serine protease inhibitor reduces intensity of Plasmodium berghei infection in mosquitoes.

Publications

Immunisation against a serine protease inhibitor reduces intensity of Plasmodium berghei infection in mosquitoes.

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