In vitro damage of cultured ookinetes of Plasmodium gallinaceum by digestive proteinases from susceptible Aedes aegypti.

After exposure to extracts from blood fed A. aegupti cultured ookinetes of P. gallinaceum were damaged to various, defined extents. Immature ookinetes were found to be more sensitive to damage than mature ones. The damage was dependent on the digestion time after which the Aedes extracts had been prepared and could be correlated with the proteolytic activity in the extracts. Control experiments demonstrated that the factors responsible for damage were neither present in unfed mosquitoes nor in blood alone and that the damage was not a result of osmotic stress. After the treatment of the Aedes extracts with lima bean trypsin inhibitor the ookinete damage was much less, indicating that the Aedes trypsin was the major agent of damage. These results were supported by experiments in which the tryptic activity of the extracts was eliminated by thermal denaturation. It is concluded that in the mosquito midgut most of the ookinetes are damaged by digestive enzymes and that this is one factor leading to the discrepancy between the number of ingested macrogametocytes and the number of oocysts which is usually found in nature. It seems that the only ookinetes which have a chance of surviving are those which develop in the centre of the blood clot, away from the site of enzyme action.     

Essential role of membrane-attack protein in malarial transmission to mosquito host

After ingestion of infected blood by a mosquito, malarial parasites are fertilized in the mosquito midgut and develop into motile ookinetes. These ookinetes invade epithelial cells by rupturing the cell membrane and migrate through the cytoplasm toward the basal lamina, on which they develop to oocysts. Here we report that a microneme protein with a membrane-attack complex and perforin (MACPF)-related domain, which we name membrane-attack ookinete protein (MAOP), is produced in the ookinete stage and plays an essential role in midgut invasion by the ookinete. Ookinetes with the MAOP gene disrupted completely lost infectivity to the midgut. After ingestion of blood infected with the disrupted parasite, the midgut epithelium remained intact, making a clear contrast with the damaged midgut epithelium invaded by wild-type ookinetes. Electron microscopic analysis showed that the disruptant ookinetes migrate to the gut epithelium and attach to the cell surface at the apical tip, but are unable to enter the cytoplasm by rupturing the cell membrane. These results indicate that the MAOP molecule acts on the plasma membrane of the host-cell-like mammalian MACPF family proteins that create pores in the membrane of target cells. Another previously identified MACPF-related molecule is produced in the liver-infective sporozoite and has a crucial role in traversing the liver sinusoidal cell boundary. The present finding, thus, suggests that conserved mechanisms for membrane rupture involving MACPF-related proteins are used in different host invasive stages of the malarial parasite, playing a key role in breaching biological barriers of host organs.     

New ultrastructural analysis of the invasive apparatus of the Plasmodium ookinete

Abstract. Invasion of the mosquito midgut by the Plasmodium ookinete determines the success of transmission of malaria parasites from humans to mosquitoes and therefore, is a potential target for molecular intervention. Here, we show higher-resolution ultrastructural details of developing and mature P. gallinaceum ookinetes than previously available. Improved fixation and processing methods yielded substantially improved transmission electron micrographs of ookinetes, particularly with regard to visualization of subcellular secretory and other organelles. These new images provide new insights into the synthesis and function of vital invasive machinery focused on the following features: apical membrane protrusions presumptively used for attachment and protein secretion, dark spherical bodies at the apical end of the mature ookinete, and the presence of a dense array of micronemes apposed to microtubules at the apical end of the ookinete involved in constitutive secretion. This work advances understanding of the molecular and cellular details of the Plasmodium ookinete and provides the basis of future, more detailed mechanistic experimentation on the biology of the Plasmodium ookinete.     

Ookinete rates in Afrotropical anopheline mosquitoes as a measure of human malaria infectiousness.

Anopheles gambiae s.1. and An. funestus were sampled for Plasmodium spp. ookinetes in two P. falciparum-endemic sites in western Kenya. Since the ookinete is a transitional stage of short duration, occurring after fertilization and before oocyst development, only females in the half-gravid and gravid stages of blood digestion were examined. Preparations of homogenized midguts were spotted onto microslides and examined microscopically after staining with Giemsa. Overall, ookinetes were detected in 4.4% of 1,079 anophelines examined over an eight-month period. Anopheles funestus had higher ookinete rates than An. gambiae s.1., and ookinete rates were higher in half-gravid than in gravid An. gambiae s.1. Geometric mean numbers of ookinetes per infected female were less than five for each species at the two sites, and the maximum number observed was only 12. The low frequencies and numbers of ookinetes were sufficient to produce sporozoite rates of 4-18% in the vector populations. The intense transmission of P. falciparum in these two sites is maintained by anthropophilic vectors where only one in 23 blood meals initiates an infection of generally less than five ookinetes. Relationships between human malaria infectiousness and vector infectivity are dependent upon the high efficiency of the developmental transition from the ookinete to the subsequent oocyst and sporozoite stages.     

In vitro generation of Plasmodium falciparum ookinetes

Plasmodium transmission from the human host to the mosquito depends on the ability of gametocytes to differentiate into ookinetes, the invasive form of the parasite that invades and establishes infection in the mosquito midgut. The biology of P. falciparum ookinetes is poorly understood, because sufficient quantities of this stage of this parasite species have not been obtained for detailed study. This report details methods to optimize production of P. falciparum sexual stage parasites, including ookinetes. Flow cytometric sorting was used to separate diploid/tetraploid zygotes and ookinetes from haploid gametetocytes and unfertilized gametes based on DNA content. Consistent production of 10(6)-10(7) P. falciparum ookinetes per 10 mL culture was observed, with ookinete transformation present in 10-40% of all parasite forms. Transmission electron micrographs of cultured parasites confirmed ookinete development.     

约氏疟原虫动合子移行蚊中肠上皮细胞的透射电镜观察

用透射电镜观察了约氏疟原虫动合子移行斯氏按蚊中肠(胃)上皮细胞的途径,结果发现在两个上皮细胞中间有一个动合子正在细胞间隙中移行,超微结构观察,虫体结构完整,可见圆锥状顶突与蚊中肠壁基底膜相接触,在虫体圆锥状区域的内部具有1～2对呈梨形的棒状体和数量较多的微线体,同时,也看到已穿过上皮细胞间隙并附着于基底膜上的动合子仍保持圆柱状的体形,有的已定位并开始向卵囊分化。由此证实了约氏疟原虫动合子移行中肠上皮细胞的过程是通过穿透细胞间隙而后定位于基底膜。本文对疟原虫动合子的移行途径及其机制进行了讨论。     

Scanning electron microscopic observations of ookinete formation of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii in vitro

The ookinete formation and mature ookinete of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii were described. During the development from zygote to ookinete, at first a finger-shaped or a stick-shaped projection protruded from one side of zygote. The anterior end of the projection assumed a truncated cone shape. Following enlargement of the projection, the body of zygote gradually wrinkled and shrank and became smaller. An annular structure developed between the newly formed ookinete and the remaining body of zygote, which ultimately separated from the ookinete. The ookinete was banana-shaped. The surface of mature ookinetes was smooth. On the tip there was an apical complex showing truncated cone shape. Behind the apical end there were a few pellicular folds. Through the course of development of the ookinete the parasite constantly showed obvious movement. As the parasites protruding forward, longitudinal and spiral wrinkles appeared on their body surface.     

Invasion in vitro of mosquito midgut cells by the malaria parasite proceeds by a conserved mechanism and results in death of the invaded midgut cells

Using an in vitro culture system, we observed the migration of malaria ookinetes on the surface of the mosquito midgut and invasion of the midgut epithelium. Ookinetes display constrictions during migration to the midgut surface and a gliding motion once on the luminal midgut surface. Invasion of a midgut cell always occurs at its lateral apical surface. Invasion is rapid and is often followed by invasion of a neighboring midgut cell by the ookinete. The morphology of the invaded cells changes dramatically after invasion, and invaded cells die rapidly. Midgut cell death is accompanied by activation of a caspase-3-like protease, suggesting cell death is apoptotic. The events occurring during invasion were identical for two different species of Plasmodium and two different genera of mosquitoes; they probably represent a universal mechanism of mosquito midgut penetration by the malaria parasite.     

Ontogeny of ookinete of Plasmodium berghei (NK 65): a scanning electron microscopic study

The ontogeny of ookinete of Plasmodium berghei (NK 65) was studied in vector Anopheles stephensi fed on infected Mastomys natalensis. The round zygote transformed into an ookinete after passing through following stages-1 gram-seed shaped zygote, 2 comma-shaped stage, 3 semilunar and 4 banana shaped ookinete. Each fully formed ookinete had a 'Conule' at the anterior end of the body. In some ookinetes under SEM a depression was observed in the posterior half of the body. The function of the depression was not known.     

Plasmodium ookinetes coopt mammalian plasminogen to invade the mosquito midgut

Ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut is an essential step for the development of the malaria parasite in the mosquito. Invasion involves recognition between a presumed mosquito midgut receptor and an ookinete ligand. Here, we show that enolase lines the ookinete surface. An antienolase antibody inhibits oocyst development of both Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum, suggesting that enolase may act as an invasion ligand. Importantly, we demonstrate that surface enolase captures plasminogen from the mammalian blood meal via its lysine motif (DKSLVK) and that this interaction is essential for midgut invasion, because plasminogen depletion leads to a strong inhibition of oocyst formation. Although addition of recombinant WT plasminogen to depleted serum rescues oocyst formation, recombinant inactive plasminogen does not, thus emphasizing the importance of plasmin proteolytic activity for ookinete invasion. The results support the hypothesis that enolase on the surface of Plasmodium ookinetes plays a dual role in midgut invasion: by acting as a ligand that interacts with the midgut epithelium and, further, by capturing plasminogen, whose conversion to active plasmin promotes the invasion process.     

Disruption of Plasmodium falciparum development by antibodies against a conserved mosquito midgut antigen

Malaria parasites must undergo development within mosquitoes to be transmitted to a new host. Antivector transmission-blocking vaccines inhibit parasite development by preventing ookinete interaction with mosquito midgut ligands. Therefore, the discovery of novel midgut antigen targets is paramount. Jacalin (a lectin) inhibits ookinete attachment by masking glycan ligands on midgut epithelial surface glycoproteins. However, the identities of these midgut glycoproteins have remained unknown. Here we report on the molecular characterization of an Anopheles gambiae aminopeptidase N (AgAPN1) as the predominant jacalin target on the mosquito midgut luminal surface and provide evidence for its role in ookinete invasion. alpha-AgAPN1 IgG strongly inhibited both Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum development in different mosquito species, implying that AgAPN1 has a conserved role in ookinete invasion of the midgut. Molecules targeting single midgut antigens seldom achieve complete abrogation of parasite development. However, the combined blocking activity of alpha-AgAPN1 IgG and an unrelated inhibitory peptide, SM1, against P. berghei was incomplete. We also found that SM1 can block only P. berghei, whereas alpha-AgAPN1 IgG can block both parasite species significantly. Therefore, we hypothesize that ookinetes can evade inhibition by two potent transmission-blocking molecules, presumably through the use of other ligands, and that this process further partitions murine from human parasite midgut invasion models. These results advance our understanding of malaria parasite-mosquito host interactions and guide in the design of transmission-blocking vaccines.     

约氏疟原虫与伯氏疟原虫侵入期抗原的初步研究

目的　用针对鼠约氏疟原虫(Plasmodiumyoelii)侵入期的8种单克隆抗体,对约氏疟原虫和伯氏疟原虫(P.berghei)侵入期即动合子、裂殖子和子孢子棒状体和表面抗原检测分析。　方法　间接免疫荧光实验(IFA)对各侵入期抗原进行亚细胞结构定位,SDSPAGE及Western印迹对两种鼠疟原虫的不同侵入期进行抗原组分分析。　结果　经上述两种方法检测发现,顶端复合体抗原成分复杂,约氏疟原虫和伯氏疟原虫的棒状体有共同的抗原表位,约氏疟原虫的动合子与其自身的裂殖子有类似成分,也有各自独特的抗原。两种鼠疟原虫动合子抗原有类似成分。约氏疟原虫的子孢子具有与裂殖子、动合子不同的抗原成分。　结论　疟原虫侵入期棒状体和表面抗原在同一虫种的不同侵入期和不同虫种中有共同的抗原表位,也有各自的独特组分。     

Optimized in vitro production of Plasmodium vivax ookinetes

Previous reports have described obtaining mature Plasmodium vivax ookinetes in vitro using blood from infected patients using a simplified, field-based protocol. Here, we report protocols that produce improved P. vivax ookinete yields and morphological development. Optimal conditions included induction of gametogenesis using 10 mM Tris, 170 mM NaCl, 10 mM glucose, 25 mM NaHCO(3), and 100 μM xanthurenic acid for 90 minutes at pH 8.0-8.2, followed by culture in RPMI-1640, 50 mg/mL hypoxanthine, 25 mM HEPES, 29 mM NaHCO(3), 2 mM L-glutamine, and 20% fetal bovine serum at pH 8.4 for 36 hours. Ookinetes were produced in 86% (18/21) of optimized in vitro cultures; yields ranged from 6.5 × 10(4) to 2.8 × 10(6); percent gametocyte conversion ranged from 1.4% to 4.7%. This improved method is suitable for preparation of P. vivax ookinetes in quantities sufficient for biochemical, molecular, and cell biological analysis where basic laboratory facilities are in proximity to patients with vivax malaria.     

Effect of bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis on the development of Plasmodium gallinaceum in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Adult, female Aedes aegypti, some of which had survived a sublethal dose (LC50) of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis (Bti) as larvae, were fed on chickens with gametocytaemia of Plasmodium gallinaceum. Parasite development was monitored by dissecting samples of the mosquitoes immediately after the feed and on days 1, 7 and 9 post-feed, to check for the presence of gametocytes, ookinetes, oocysts and sporozoites, respectively. As the proportions of batches of fed mosquitoes found positive for gametocytes and ookinetes and the density of these parasite stages in the infected flies did not differ significantly between Bti-treated and untreated mosquitoes, ingestion of gametocytes and development of ookinetes did not appear to be affected by Bti exposure. However, the Bti-treated mosquitoes were significantly less likely to carry oocysts and those that were oocyst-positive carried significantly fewer oocysts than the untreated controls, indicating Bti-induced parasite loss during development of oocysts. Consequently, the proportion of mosquitoes with sporozoites was also significantly lower in the treated group. The study shows that mosquitoes surviving Bti treatment did not fully support parasite development. The implication of this effect is discussed in terms of malaria transmission.     

Melatonin-induced increased activity of the respiratory chain complexes I and IV can prevent mitochondrial damage induced by ruthenium red in vivo

Melatonin displays antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties. Due to its ability with which it enters cells, these protective effects are manifested in all subcellular compartments. Recent studies suggest a role for melatonin in mitochondrial metabolism. To study the effects of melatonin on this organelle we used ruthenium red to induce mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress. The results show that melatonin (10 mg/kg i.p.) can increase the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory complexes I and IV after its administration in vivo in a time-dependent manner; these changes correlate well with the half-life of the indole in plasma. Melatonin administration also prevented the decrease in the activity of complexes I and IV due to ruthenium red (60 microg/kg i.p.) administration. At this dose, ruthenium red did not induce lipid peroxidation but it significantly reduced the activity of the antioxidative enzyme glutathione peroxidase, an effect also counteracted by melatonin. These results suggest that melatonin modulates mitochondrial respiratory activity, an effect that may account for some of the protective properties of the indoleamine. The mitochondria-modulating role of melatonin may be of physiological significance since it seems that the indoleamine is concentrated into normal mitochondria. The data also support a pharmacological use of melatonin in drug-induced mitochondrial damage in vivo.     

Malaria parasite chitinase and penetration of the mosquito peritrophic membrane.

Malaria parasites (ookinetes) appear to digest the peritrophic membrane in the mosquito midgut during penetration. Previous studies demonstrated that lectins specific for N-acetylglucosamine bind to the peritrophic membrane and proposed that the membrane contains chitin [Rudin, W. & Hecker, H. (1989) Parasitol. Res. 75, 268-279]. In the present study, we show that the peritrophic membrane is digested by Serratia marcescens chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14), leading to the release of N-acetylglucosamine and fragmentation of the membrane. We also report the presence of a malaria parasite chitinase that digests 4-methylumbelliferyl chitotriose. The enzyme is not detectable until 15 hr after zygote formation, the time required for maturation of the parasite from a zygote to an ookinete, the invasive form of the parasite. At 20 hr, the enzyme begins to appear in the culture supernatant. The chitinase extracted from the parasite and found in the culture supernatant consists of a major band and two minor bands of activity on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The presence of chitin in the peritrophic membrane, the disruption of the peritrophic membrane during invasion, and the presence of chitinase in ookinetes suggest that the chitinase in ookinetes is used in the penetration of the peritrophic membrane.     

Hypoxia-reoxygenation induced increase in cellular Ca2+ in myocytes and perfused hearts: the role of mitochondria

Reoxygenation of isolated rat cardiac myocytes following a period of hypoxia and substrate deprivation resulted in a 1.5-2-fold increase in the total Ca2+ content which could be inhibited by 1 microM antimycin A or ruthenium red (50% inhibition at 2.5 microM). This increase in Ca2+ content was not accompanied by any release of creatine kinase into the medium. Treatment of reoxygenated cells with digitonin also resulted in an antimycin A-sensitive increase in Ca2+ but this was inhibited by a lower concentration of ruthenium red (50% inhibition at 0.25 microM) and was associated with a substantial release of creatine kinase from the cells. It is concluded that the reoxygenation-stimulated increase in Ca2+ is dependent on functioning mitochondria and does not occur as a result of physical damage to the sarcolemma. In a parallel series of experiments, the effects of antimycin A and ruthenium red on the reoxygenation-induced increase in Ca2+ and release of cytosolic contents in the perfused heart (the oxygen paradox) were also investigated. As was observed with the isolated myocytes, each of the compounds significantly reduced the magnitude of the Ca2+ increase that occurred on reoxygenation: the compounds also reduced the extent of release of cell contents in the perfused heart. The implications of these results for the series of events occurring on reoxygenation of the hypoxic myocardium are discussed.     

Ruthenium red delays the onset of cell death during oxidative stress of rat hepatocytes.

Our objective was to determine if ruthenium red protects against lethal oxidative injury of rat hepatocytes. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide, 100 mumol/L, was used to produce oxidative stress. After 2 hours of oxidative stress, cell viability was greater with than without 25 mumol/L ruthenium red (37% vs. 4.6%; P less than 0.01). Despite this cytoprotection, ruthenium red did not alter the rate or extent of glutathione depletion, malondialdehyde generation, or adenosine triphosphate depletion. In contrast, ruthenium red did retard loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (78% vs. 42% within 30 minutes; P less than 0.01). However, the protective effect of ruthenium red could not solely be explained by preserving the mitochondrial membrane potential. Indeed, ruthenium red still improved cell survival after 2 hours of exposure to 10 mumol/L carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), a mitochondrial uncoupler (39% vs. 13%; P less than 0.01). Cytosolic free calcium values did not change during the uncoupling of mitochondria, suggesting that the cytoprotective properties of ruthenium red cannot be explained by blocking mitochondrial calcium transport. Ruthenium red did inhibit proteolysis after 2 hours of exposure to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (434 +/- 62 vs. 242 +/- 20 nmol/10(6) cells; P = 0.016) or CCCP (236 +/- 50 vs. 99 +/- 38 nmol/10(6) cells; P = 0.04). The results indicate that ruthenium red appears to protect against hepatocellular injury by inhibiting degradative proteolytic activity. It is concluded that proteolysis may be an important mechanism contributing to lethal oxidative injury of hepatocytes.     

Multiple pathways for Plasmodium ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut

Plasmodium ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut is a crucial step of the parasite life cycle but little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved. Previously, a phage display peptide library screen identified SM1, a peptide that binds to the mosquito midgut epithelium and inhibits ookinete invasion. SM1 was characterized as a mimotope of an ookinete surface enolase and SM1 presumably competes with enolase, the presumed ligand, for binding to a putative midgut receptor. Here we identify a mosquito midgut receptor that binds both SM1 and ookinete surface enolase, termed “enolase-binding protein” (EBP). Moreover, we determined that Plasmodium berghei parasites are heterogeneous for midgut invasion, as some parasite clones are strongly inhibited by SM1 whereas others are not. The SM1-sensitive parasites required the mosquito EBP receptor for midgut invasion whereas the SM1-resistant parasites invaded the mosquito midgut independently of EBP. These experiments provide evidence that Plasmodium ookinetes can invade the mosquito midgut by alternate pathways. Furthermore, another peptide from the original phage display screen, midgut peptide 2 (MP2), strongly inhibited midgut invasion by P. berghei (SM1-sensitive and SM1-resistant) and Plasmodium falciparum ookinetes, suggesting that MP2 binds to a separate, universal receptor for midgut invasion.Malaria is currently the most devastating parasitic disease with an estimated death toll of over 1 million lives in 2010 (1). The life cycle of the malaria parasite requires invasion of five different cell types: Kupffer cells, hepatocytes, and erythrocytes in the human host (2–5) and midgut and salivary gland epithelial cells in the mosquito vector (6, 7). Of these, merozoite invasion of erythrocytes is the process studied in the most detail and the only one known to occur by multiple pathways (4).Mosquito midgut invasion by Plasmodium ookinetes is currently considered a promising target for transmission-blocking intervention as parasite numbers undergo a major bottleneck at this stage (8, 9). After the mosquito ingests an infected blood meal, male and female gametes mate in the midgut lumen giving rise to zygotes that differentiate into motile ookinetes. After crossing the peritrophic matrix aided by chitinase secretion (10–12), the ookinete establishes specific molecular interactions with the midgut epithelial cells followed by their invasion and traversal. Several proteins from the ookinete (enolase, WARP, MAOP, PPLP5, SUB2, CelTOS, SOAP, P28, and P25) (7, 13–20) and the mosquito [aminopeptidase 1 (APN1), annexin-like proteins, carboxypeptidase B, croquemort scavenger receptor homolog, and calreticulin] (21–25) have been suggested to be involved in this process. However, the only molecular interaction between the ookinete and the midgut characterized thus far is the in vitro interaction between parasite Pvs25 and mosquito calreticulin (25).Circumstantial evidence suggests that ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut requires specific interactions between parasite and mosquito components (21, 26). In an attempt to elucidate these interactions at the molecular level, we have previously screened a phage display library for peptides that bind to the Anopheles midgut epithelium. This screen identified SM1, a dodecapeptide that binds to the midgut luminal surface and importantly, strongly inhibits Plasmodium berghei ookinete invasion (26). Midgut expression of the SM1 peptide by transgenic mosquitoes also inhibits P. berghei ookinete invasion (27). Further work indicated that SM1 structurally mimics the ookinete surface protein enolase, which we hypothesized to be involved in the recognition of a midgut receptor (7, 28).Here we identify a mosquito midgut surface protein, enolase-binding protein (EBP), that binds both SM1 and ookinete surface enolase, and is required for midgut invasion. In addition, we provide evidence that Plasmodium ookinetes can invade the mosquito midgut by at least two alternate pathways, one sensitive and the other resistant to SM1 peptide inhibition. Finally, we identified a second peptide, midgut peptide 2 (MP2), that binds to a putative alternate receptor and inhibits ookinete midgut invasion of P. berghei (both SM1-sensitive and SM1-resistant) and Plasmodium falciparum. These findings have important implications for the development and implementation of malaria transmission-blocking strategies.