Project description:Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has emerged in western Cambodia. This is a major threat to global plans to control and eliminate malaria as the artemisinins are a key component of antimalarial treatment throughout the world. Using DNA microarrays we identify key features of a transcriptional profile that are associated with the delayed parasite clearance phenotype. These include reduced expression of several basic metabolic and cellular pathways in the early stages, and increased expression of essentially all functionalities associated with protein metabolism in the later stages of P. falciparum intraerythrocytic development. This is consistent with the reduced ring stage susceptibility that characterizes artemisinin resistant P. falciparum. This modulation of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic transcriptome may result from differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as transcription factors of chromatin remodeling associated factors. In addition, the artemisinin resistant phenotype is strongly associated with a specific pattern of copy number variations, some of which are linked with differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as histone 4 and zinc permease. This study reports the first global transcriptional survey of artemisinin resistant parasites and provides a set of candidate genes for further investigation.
Project description:Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has emerged in western Cambodia. This is a major threat to global plans to control and eliminate malaria as the artemisinins are a key component of antimalarial treatment throughout the world. Using DNA microarrays we identify key features of a transcriptional profile that are associated with the delayed parasite clearance phenotype. These include reduced expression of several basic metabolic and cellular pathways in the early stages, and increased expression of essentially all functionalities associated with protein metabolism in the later stages of P. falciparum intraerythrocytic development. This is consistent with the reduced ring stage susceptibility that characterizes artemisinin resistant P. falciparum. This modulation of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic transcriptome may result from differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as transcription factors of chromatin remodeling associated factors. In addition, the artemisinin resistant phenotype is strongly associated with a specific pattern of copy number variations, some of which are linked with differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as histone 4 and zinc permease. This study reports the first global transcriptional survey of artemisinin resistant parasites and provides a set of candidate genes for further investigation.
Project description:Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum remains a challenge for the malaria eradication programs around the world. With the emergence of artemisinin resistance, the efficacy of the partner drugs in the artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) that include quinoline based drugs is becoming critical. So far only few resistance markers have been identified and verified from which only two ABC transmembrane transporters namely PfMDR1 and PfCRT have been experimentally verified. Another P. falciparum ABC transporter, the multidrug resistance-associated protein (PfMRP2) represents an additional possible factor of drug resistance in P. falciparum. In this study, we identify a parasite clone that is derived from the 3D7 P. falciparum strain and which shows increased resistance to chloroquine and mefloquine through the trophozoite and schizont stages. We demonstrate that the resistance phenotype is caused by a 4.1 kb deletion in the 5’ upstream region of the pfmrp2 gene that leads to an alteration in the pfmrp2 transcription that result in increased levels of PfMRP2 protein. These results also suggest the importance of putative promoter elements in regulation of gene expression during the P. falciparum intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle and the potential of such genetic polymorphisms to underlie drug resistance phenotypes. Presented here are the data from microarray-based genome-wide transcriptomic and genomic studies of the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant 3D7 clones 11C/wt and 6A/mut.
Project description:Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has emerged in western Cambodia. This is a major threat to global plans to control and eliminate malaria as the artemisinins are a key component of antimalarial treatment throughout the world. Using DNA microarrays we identify key features of a transcriptional profile that are associated with the delayed parasite clearance phenotype. These include reduced expression of several basic metabolic and cellular pathways in the early stages, and increased expression of essentially all functionalities associated with protein metabolism in the later stages of P. falciparum intraerythrocytic development. This is consistent with the reduced ring stage susceptibility that characterizes artemisinin resistant P. falciparum. This modulation of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic transcriptome may result from differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as transcription factors of chromatin remodeling associated factors. In addition, the artemisinin resistant phenotype is strongly associated with a specific pattern of copy number variations, some of which are linked with differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as histone 4 and zinc permease. This study reports the first global transcriptional survey of artemisinin resistant parasites and provides a set of candidate genes for further investigation. 6 P. falciparum parasites (field isolates) which are either Artemsinin resistant or sensitive from 3 study sites (Pailin in Cambodia, Xepon in Laos, Mae Sot in Thailand) were sampled and harvested for genomic DNA. gDNA from a total of 6 samples were extracted by phenol chloroform. Synthesis of labelled target DNA was carried out as previously described: Mackinnon, M.J. et al. Comparative transcriptional and genomic analysis of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates. PLoS Pathog 5, e1000644 (2009), and used in comparative genomic microarray hybridizations (CGH).
Project description:Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has emerged in western Cambodia. This is a major threat to global plans to control and eliminate malaria as the artemisinins are a key component of antimalarial treatment throughout the world. Using DNA microarrays we identify key features of a transcriptional profile that are associated with the delayed parasite clearance phenotype. These include reduced expression of several basic metabolic and cellular pathways in the early stages, and increased expression of essentially all functionalities associated with protein metabolism in the later stages of P. falciparum intraerythrocytic development. This is consistent with the reduced ring stage susceptibility that characterizes artemisinin resistant P. falciparum. This modulation of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic transcriptome may result from differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as transcription factors of chromatin remodeling associated factors. In addition, the artemisinin resistant phenotype is strongly associated with a specific pattern of copy number variations, some of which are linked with differential expression of several regulatory proteins such as histone 4 and zinc permease. This study reports the first global transcriptional survey of artemisinin resistant parasites and provides a set of candidate genes for further investigation. 11 P. falciparum parasites (field isolates) which are either Artemsinin resistant or sensitive from 3 study sites (Pailin in Cambodia, Xepon in Laos, Mae Sot in Thailand) were sampled, grown ex-vivo over 48 hours and harvested at regular intervals. RNA from a total of 91 samples were extracted. Synthesis of target DNA was carried out as previously described: Mackinnon, M.J. et al. Comparative transcriptional and genomic analysis of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates. PLoS Pathog 5, e1000644 (2009), and used in microarray hybridizations.
Project description:Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum remains a challenge for the malaria eradication programs around the world. With the emergence of artemisinin resistance, the efficacy of the partner drugs in the artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) that include quinoline based drugs is becoming critical. So far only few resistance markers have been identified and verified from which only two ABC transmembrane transporters namely PfMDR1 and PfCRT have been experimentally verified. Another P. falciparum ABC transporter, the multidrug resistance-associated protein (PfMRP2) represents an additional possible factor of drug resistance in P. falciparum. In this study, we identify a parasite clone that is derived from the 3D7 P. falciparum strain and which shows increased resistance to chloroquine and mefloquine through the trophozoite and schizont stages. We demonstrate that the resistance phenotype is caused by a 4.1 kb deletion in the 5’ upstream region of the pfmrp2 gene that leads to an alteration in the pfmrp2 transcription that result in increased levels of PfMRP2 protein. These results also suggest the importance of putative promoter elements in regulation of gene expression during the P. falciparum intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle and the potential of such genetic polymorphisms to underlie drug resistance phenotypes. Presented here are the data from microarray-based genome-wide transcriptomic and genomic studies of the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant 3D7 clones 11C/wt and 6A/mut.
Project description:Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum remains a challenge for the malaria eradication programs around the world. With the emergence of artemisinin resistance, the efficacy of the partner drugs in the artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) that include quinoline based drugs is becoming critical. So far only few resistance markers have been identified and verified from which only two ABC transmembrane transporters namely PfMDR1 and PfCRT have been experimentally verified. Another P. falciparum ABC transporter, the multidrug resistance-associated protein (PfMRP2) represents an additional possible factor of drug resistance in P. falciparum. In this study, we identify a parasite clone that is derived from the 3D7 P. falciparum strain and which shows increased resistance to chloroquine and mefloquine through the trophozoite and schizont stages. We demonstrate that the resistance phenotype is caused by a 4.1 kb deletion in the 5M-bM-^@M-^Y upstream region of the pfmrp2 gene that leads to an alteration in the pfmrp2 transcription that result in increased levels of PfMRP2 protein. These results also suggest the importance of putative promoter elements in regulation of gene expression during the P. falciparum intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle and the potential of such genetic polymorphisms to underlie drug resistance phenotypes. Presented here are the data from microarray-based genome-wide transcriptomic and genomic studies of the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant 3D7 clones 11C/wt and 6A/mut. 2 P. falciparum lab clones derived from 3D7 strain were harvested during the intra-erythrocytic cycle for genomic DNA. gDNA were extracted by phenol chloroform. Synthesis of labelled target DNA was carried out as previously described: Bozdech, Z., M. Llinas, B. L. Pulliam, E. D. Wong, J. Zhu & J. L. DeRisi, (2003) The transcriptome of the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Biol 1: E5, and used in comparative genomic microarray hybridizations (CGH).
Project description:Evolving resistance to artemisinin-based compounds in SE Asia threatens to derail attempts to control and eliminate malaria. Resistance has been confirmed in western Cambodia, has recently emerged in western Thailand, but is absent from neighboring Laos. Artemisinin resistance results in reduced parasite clearance rates (CR) from the blood following treatment. We used a two-phase approach to identify the genes underlying this ongoing selective event. Comparison of geographical differentiation and haplotype structure at 6,969 polymorphic SNPs in 91 parasites from western Cambodia, western Thailand and Laos identified 33 strongly selected genome regions. We screened SNPs and microsatellites within these genome regions in 718 parasites from western Thailand, and identified a 35kb region of chr 13 showing strong association (P=10-6 to 10-11) with slow CR. This region contains several compelling candidate loci, such as HSP70, for assessment by transfection. These results illustrate the efficacy of targeted association for identifying the genetic basis of adaptive traits. 91 malaria parasite isolates assayed for single nucleotide polymorphisms across 45K loci
Project description:Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum remains a challenge for the malaria eradication programs around the world. With the emergence of artemisinin resistance, the efficacy of the partner drugs in the artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) that include quinoline based drugs is becoming critical. So far only few resistance markers have been identified and verified from which only two ABC transmembrane transporters namely PfMDR1 and PfCRT have been experimentally verified. Another P. falciparum ABC transporter, the multidrug resistance-associated protein (PfMRP2) represents an additional possible factor of drug resistance in P. falciparum. In this study, we identify a parasite clone that is derived from the 3D7 P. falciparum strain and which shows increased resistance to chloroquine and mefloquine through the trophozoite and schizont stages. We demonstrate that the resistance phenotype is caused by a 4.1 kb deletion in the 5M-bM-^@M-^Y upstream region of the pfmrp2 gene that leads to an alteration in the pfmrp2 transcription that result in increased levels of PfMRP2 protein. These results also suggest the importance of putative promoter elements in regulation of gene expression during the P. falciparum intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle and the potential of such genetic polymorphisms to underlie drug resistance phenotypes. Presented here are the data from microarray-based genome-wide transcriptomic and genomic studies of the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant 3D7 clones 11C/wt and 6A/mut. 2 P. falciparum lab clones derived from 3D7 strain were harvested during the intra-erythrocytic cycle at 8hr intervals over 48 hours to obtain a total of 6 time point samples per clone. RNA from a total of 12 samples were extracted. Synthesis of target DNA was carried out as described in Bozdech, Z., S. Mok & A. P. Gupta, (2013) DNA microarray-based genome-wide analyses of Plasmodium parasites. Methods in molecular biology 923: 189-211 and used in replicate microarray hybridizations against a common RNA reference pool of 3D7 strain.