No vaccine is currently available for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani. This study addresses whether a live attenuated centrin gene-deleted L. donovani (LdCen1−/−) parasite can persist and be both safe and protective in animals. LdCen1−/− has a defect in amastigote replication both in vitro and ex vivo in human macrophages. Safety was shown by the lack of parasites in spleen and liver in susceptible BALB/c mice, immune compromised SCID mice, and human VL model hamsters 10 wk after infection. Mice immunized with LdCen1−/− showed early clearance of virulent parasite challenge not seen in mice immunized with heat killed parasites. Upon virulent challenge, the immunized mice displayed in the CD4+ T cell population a significant increase of single and multiple cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF) producing cells and IFN-γ/IL10 ratio. Immunized mice also showed increased IgG2a immunoglobulins and NO production in macrophages. These features indicated a protective Th1-type immune response. The Th1 response correlated with a significantly reduced parasite burden in the spleen and no parasites in the liver compared with naive mice 10 wk post challenge. Protection was observed, when challenged even after 16 wk post immunization, signifying a sustained immunity. Protection by immunization with attenuated parasites was also seen in hamsters. Immunization with LdCen1−/− also cross-protected mice against infection with L. braziliensis that causes mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Results indicate that LdCen1−/− can be a safe and effective vaccine candidate against VL as well as mucocutaneous leishmaniasis causing parasites.

Centrin is a calcium-binding cytoskeletal protein involved in the duplication of centrosomes in higher eukaryotes. To explore the role of centrin in the protozoan parasite Leishmania, we created Leishmania deficient in the centrin gene (LdCEN). Remarkably, centrin null mutants (LdCEN ؊/؊ ) showed selective growth arrest as axenic amastigotes but not as promastigotes. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that the mutant axenic amastigotes have a cell cycle arrest at the G 2 /M stage. The axenic amastigotes also showed failure of basal body duplication and failure of cytokinesis resulting in multinucleated "large" cells. Increased terminal deoxy uridine triphosphate nick end labeling positivity was observed in centrin mutant axenic amastigotes compared with wild type cells, suggesting the activation of a programmed cell death pathway. Growth of LdCEN ؊/؊ amastigotes in infected macrophages in vitro was inhibited and also resulted in large multinucleated parasites. Normal basal body duplication and cell division in the LdCEN knockout promastigote is unique and surprising. Further, this is the first report where disruption of a centrin gene displays stage-specific/cell type-specific failure in cell division in a eukaryote. The centrin null mutant defective in amastigote growth could be useful as a vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis.

In this report, we have characterized two metacaspases of Leishmania donovani, L. donovani metacaspase-1 (LdMC1) and LdMC2. These two proteins show 98% homology with each other, and both contain a characteristic C-terminal proline-rich domain. Both genes are transcribed in promastigotes and axenic amastigotes of L. donovani; however, LdMC1 shows increased mRNA levels in axenic amastigotes. An anti-LdMC antibody was obtained and showed reactivity with a single ϳ42-kDa protein band in both promastigote and axenic amastigote parasite whole-cell lysates by Western blotting. Pulse-chase experiments suggest that LdMCs are not synthesized as proenzymes, and immunofluorescence studies show that LdMCs are associated with the acidocalcisome compartments of L. donovani. Enzymatic assays of immunoprecipitated LdMCs show that native LdMCs efficiently cleave trypsin substrates and are unable to cleave caspase-specific substrates. Consistently, LdMC activity is insensitive to caspase inhibitors and is efficiently inhibited by trypsin inhibitors, such as leupeptin, antipain, and N ␣ -tosyl-L-lysine-chloromethyl ketone (TLCK). In addition, our results show that LdMC activity was induced in parasites treated with hydrogen peroxide, a known trigger of programmed cell death (PCD) in Leishmania and that parasites overexpressing metacaspases are more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide-induced PCD. These findings suggest that Leishmania metacaspases are not responsible for the caspase-like activities reported in this organism and suggest a possible role for LdMCs as effector molecules in Leishmania PCD.Metacaspases constitute a new family of caspase-related proteins recently described by Uren et al. (39). They have been identified by bioinformatic analysis and are found in plants, fungi, and parasitic protozoa but are absent in mammals (39). Metacaspases belong to the CD clan of cysteine peptidases with six other families, including caspases and paracaspases (29). Metacaspases are structurally related to caspases and show conservation of cysteine and histidine amino acid residues involved in the Cys-His catalytic dyad of the active domains of caspase (39). Caspases have been shown to play a central role in programmed cell death of mammalian cells, also called apoptosis (reviewed in reference 14). To date, no caspase gene has been identified in plants, yeasts, or protozoan parasites. However, since these organisms possess one or more metacaspases, it is conceivable that like caspases in mammalian cells, these caspase-related proteases could be involved in the PCD pathways in these organisms. In that regard, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae metacaspase YCA1 and the Norway spruce metacaspase mcII-Pa have been shown recently to be directly implicated in PCD in these organisms (4, 28). To date, however, the possible role of metacaspases in PCD of protozoan parasites remains to be demonstrated.Little is known about the enzymatic properties of metacaspases. In contrast, the related caspase enzymes are wellcharacterized cysteine-dependent aspartate-s...

Centrin is a calcium-binding centrosome/basal body-associated protein involved in duplication and segregation of these organelles in eukaryotes. We had shown that disruption of one of the centrin genes (centrin1) in Leishmania amastigotes resulted in failure of both basal body duplication and cytokinesis. Here, we undertook to define the role of centrin1 (TbCen1) in the duplication and segregation of basal body and its associated organelles kinetoplast and Golgi, as well as its role in cytokinesis of the procyclic form of Trypanosoma brucei by depleting its protein using RNA inhibition methodology. TbCen1-depleted cells showed significant reduction in growth compared with control cells. Morphological analysis of these cells showed they were large and pleomorphic with multiple detached flagella. Both immunofluorescence assays using organelle-specific antibodies and electron microscopic analysis showed that TbCen1-deficient cells contained multiple basal bodies, kinetoplasts, Golgi, and nuclei. These multiple organelles were, however, closely clustered together, indicating duplication without segregation in the absence of centrin. This failure in organelle segregation may be the likely cause of inhibition of cytokinesis, suggesting for the first time a new and unique role for centrin in the segregation of organelles without affecting their multiplication in the procyclic form of T. brucei. INTRODUCTIONCentrin is a calcium-binding protein associated with microtubule-organizing centers (MTOC), such as the centrosome of nonciliated cells, basal bodies of ciliated or flagellated cells, and spindle pole body of yeast cells (Salisbury et al., 1988;Spang et al., 1993;Salisbury, 1995;Wolfrum and Salisbury, 1998;Klink and Wolniak, 2001). It is part of the filaments within and attached to such organelles that can contract in response to changes in Ca 2ϩ concentration as in Tetraselmis striata and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Salisbury et al., 1984;Wright et al., 1985). Thereby centrin is involved in duplication and segregation of centrosome/basal bodies and is important for cell division in eukaryotes (Errabolu et al., 1994;Salisbury, 1995). However, the basic mechanism of such centrin function is not known. There are several centrin genes identified in different eukaryotes: one in Chlamydomonas (CrCen) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CDC31), four in mice (MmCen1-4), and three in humans (HsCen1-3; Huang et al., 1988;Errabolu et al., 1994;Salisbury, 1995;Gavet et al., 2003). The recently completed genome database for two trypanosomatids, i.e., Trypanosoma brucei, causative agent of African sleeping sickness and Leishmania major that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis disease in human (Berriman et al., 2005;Ivens et al., 2005) and our own studies with L. donovani, causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in human, have revealed that there are five putative centrin genes in this group of organisms (Selvapandiyan et al., 2001(Selvapandiyan et al., , 2004.Some of the centrins have been assigned particular functions. For example, one gr...

Leishmaniasis causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and there are no vaccines available against this disease. Previously, we had shown that the amastigote specific protein p27 (Ldp27) is a component of an active cytochrome c oxidase complex in L. donovani and upon deletion of its gene the parasite had reduced virulence in vivo. In this study, we have shown that Ldp27−/− parasites do not survive beyond 20 weeks in BALB/c mice, hence are safe as an immunogen. Upon virulent challenge, 12 weeks post-immunized mice showed significantly lower parasite burden in liver and spleen. When mice were challenged 20 weeks post immunization, there was still a significant reduction in parasite burden suggesting long term protection by Ldp27−/− immunization. Immunization with Ldp27−/− induced both pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokine responses and activated splenocytes for enhanced leishmaniacidal activity in association with NO production. Protection in both short and long term immunized mice after challenge with the wild type parasite correlated with the stimulation of multifunctional Th1 type CD4 and CD8 T cells. Adoptive transfer of T cells from long term immunized mice conferred protection against virulent challenge in naïve recipient mice suggesting involvement of memory T cell response in the protection against Leishmania infection. Immunization of mice with Ldp27−/− also demonstrated cross-protection against the Leishmania major and Leishmania braziliensis infection. Our data show that genetically modified live attenuated Ldp27−/− parasites are safe, induce protective immunity even in the absence of parasites and can provide protection against homologous and heterologous Leishmania species.

A vegetative insecticidal protein (VIP)-encoding gene from a local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis has been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein shows insecticidal activity against several lepidopteran pests but is ineffective against Agrotis ipsilon. Comparison of the amino acid sequence with those of reported VIPs revealed a few differences. Analysis of insecticidal activity with N-and C-terminus deletion mutants suggests a differential mode of action of VIP against different pests.The gram-positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is known to produce parasporal crystalline inclusions during the late exponential phase of growth (8). These crystals consist of several polypeptides, some of which are insecticidal or nematocidal. Upon ingestion by insects, these toxins are proteolytically activated, and after interaction with specific receptors at the mid-gut, they cause larval death (5). Since these toxins are highly specific, they are extremely useful in controlling targeted agricultural pests. Over the past several years, more than 100 different polypeptides have been identified, and several of them have been employed in insect management programs (8). The diversity, specificity, and usefulness of these insecticidal polypeptides have encouraged searches among diverse niches for new strains displaying novel insecticidal polypeptides. In addition to the crystal-associated toxic polypeptides, some insecticidal proteins produced during vegetative growth of the bacteria have also been identified. These proteins, called vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIPs), were reported from about 15% of the B. thuringiensis strains analyzed (2). We have screened several strains of B. thuringiensis obtained from soil samples collected from different parts of India for the presence of homologues of the VIP. Based on the reported gene sequences, we designed PCR DNA primers for the detection of the vip gene in strains held in our collection. As a result of the screening program, we have cloned, sequenced, and expressed a vegetative insecticidal toxin-coding gene from one of the isolates in our collection. The toxicity spectrum of the Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant protein has been evaluated against five lepidopteran pests. By deletion analysis, we have characterized the minimal toxic polypeptide segment that retains insecticidal activity. The toxicity of deleted VIP against lepidopteran pests suggested a differential mode of action against different pests.Bacterial strains and plasmids. Different isolates of B. thuringiensis were enriched from soil samples collected from different geographical locations within India. For routine use in the laboratory, the isolates were maintained in nutrient medium (Difco), and for long-term storage, the isolates were stored as glycerol stocks at Ϫ70°C. E. coli strain M15 was obtained from Qiagen (Braunschweig, Germany) and, when required, was grown in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium at 37°C with shaking at 200 rpm.Oligonucleotide PCR primers. Primers to sc...

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Molecules and cellular mechanisms that regulate the process of cell division in malaria parasites remain poorly understood. In this study we isolate and characterize the four Plasmodium falciparum centrins (PfCENs) and, by growth complementation studies, provide evidence for their involvement in cell division. Centrins are cytoskeleton proteins with key roles in cell division, including centrosome duplication, and possess four Ca 2؉ -binding EF hand domains. By means of phylogenetic analysis, we were able to decipher the evolutionary history of centrins in eukaryotes with particular emphasis on the situation in apicomplexans and other alveolates. Plasmodium possesses orthologs of four distinct centrin paralogs traceable to the ancestral alveolate, including two that are unique to alveolates. By real time PCR and/or immunofluorescence, we determined the expression of PfCEN mRNA or protein in sporozoites, asexual blood forms, gametocytes, and in the oocysts developing inside mosquito mid-gut. Immunoelectron microscopy studies showed that centrin is expressed in close proximity with the nucleus of sporozoites and asexual schizonts. Furthermore, confocal and widefield microscopy using the double staining with ␣-tubulin and centrin antibodies strongly suggested that centrin is associated with the parasite centrosome. Following the episomal expression of the four PfCENs in a centrin knock-out Leishmania donovani parasite line that exhibited a severe growth defect, one of the PfCENs was able to partially restore Leishmania growth rate and overcome the defect in cytokinesis in such mutant cell line. To our knowledge, this study is the first characterization of a Plasmodium molecule that is involved in the process of cell division. These results provide the opportunity to further explore the role of centrins in cell division in malaria parasites and suggest novel targets to construct genetically modified, live attenuated malaria vaccines.