The Riveting Cellular Structures of Apicomplexan Parasites

Harding, Clare R.; Frischknecht, Friedrich

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2020.09.001

Cited by 56 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…Characteristically, they are equipped with an apical complex, and most contain a unique plastid, known as the apicoplast. The apical complex, which defined and gave the name to this group of parasites, plays a fundamental role in the process of host cell invasion and contains a set of secretory organelles, such as rhoptries, micronemes, and dense granules or spherical bodies, as well as a polar ring and, except for Haemosporidia, a conoid [2]. The apicoplast is a relic of a photosynthetic organelle structure, which originated from a secondary endosymbiotic event involving a red alga and contains a genome of about 30-40 kb.…”

Section: Phylogenetic Relationships and Basic Biology Of Apicomplexan Protozoamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the classical name Sporozoa for Apicomplexa suggests, sporozoan parasites have the ability to form sporozoites, a motile form that invades cells in the vertebrate host at some point in their life cycles, initiating an asexual reproductive cycle in their respective vertebrate hosts. In addition, Apicomplexa, as their name in effect implies, are equipped with a set of secretory organelles that form the apical complex and are required for host cell invasion [2]. Some apicomplexan parasites are responsible for diseases of human importance, including malaria, while others have a high global impact on livestock productive systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pursuing effective vaccines against cattle diseases caused by apicomplexan protozoa

Florín-Christensen¹

2021

CABI Reviews

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Apicomplexan parasites are responsible for important livestock diseases that affect the production of much needed protein resources, and those transmissible to humans pose a public health risk. Vaccines, recognized as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for the prevention of infectious diseases in livestock, can avert losses in food production and decrease the exposure of humans to zoonotic pathogens. This review focuses on the need for and advances in vaccine development against the apicomplexan parasites Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Eimeria spp., Besnoitia spp., Sarcocystis spp., and Cryptosporidium parvum. Together, the effect of these parasites on the cattle industry worldwide causes an enormous burden, yet they remain poorly controlled and very few effective and practical vaccines against them are available. Vaccine development is hampered by our scarce and limited knowledge of the biology and mechanisms of pathogenesis of these microorganisms, and the absence of correlates of host immune protection. More studies focused on these aspects as well as on the identification of parasite vulnerabilities that can be exploited for vaccine design are needed. Novel "omics" and gene editing approaches in understanding complex parasite biology together with advances in vaccinology will facilitate the development of effective, sustainable, and practical vaccines against cattle diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites. Such vaccines will help prevent animal and human diseases and allow production of enough animal protein to feed the growing human population in the twenty-first century and beyond.

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Section: Phylogenetic Relationships and Basic Biology Of Apicomplexan Protozoamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pursuing effective vaccines against cattle diseases caused by apicomplexan protozoa

Florín-Christensen¹

2021

CABI Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…This is reflected in the architecture and proteome of the IMC. For apicomplexans, the IMC has three main functions: i) it plays a major role in motility and invasion ii) it confers stability and shape to the cell, and iii) it provides a scaffolding framework during cytokinesis (Harding and Frischknecht, 2020;Ferreira et al, 2021). While the IMC of the motile stages serves as the anchor for proteins involved in gliding motility and host cell invasion (Soldati et al, 2004;Baum et al, 2008;Perrin et al, 2018), the gametocyte IMC appears to serve a structural role (Sinden, 1982;Dearnley et al, 2012;Parkyn Schneider et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of novel inner membrane complex and apical annuli proteins of the malaria parasitePlasmodium falciparum

Wichers

Wunderlich

Heincke

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a defining feature of apicomplexan parasites, which confers stability and shape to the cell, functions as a scaffolding compartment during the formation of daughter cells and plays an important role in motility and invasion during different life cycle stages of these single celled organisms. To explore the IMC proteome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum we applied a proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID)-based proteomics approach, using the established IMC marker protein Photosensitized INA-Labelled protein 1 (PhIL1) as bait in asexual blood-stage parasites. Subsequent mass spectrometry-based peptide identification revealed enrichment of twelve known IMC proteins and several uncharacterized candidate proteins. We validated nine of these previously uncharacterized proteins by endogenous GFP-tagging. Six of these represent new IMC proteins, while three proteins have a distinct apical localization that most likely represent structures described as apical annuli in Toxoplasma gondii. Additionally, various Kelch13 interacting candidates were identified, suggesting an association of the Kelch13 compartment and the IMC in schizont and merozoite stages. This work extends the number of validated IMC proteins in the malaria parasite and reveals for the first time the existence of apical annuli proteins in P. falciparum. Additionally, it provides evidence for a spatial association between the Kelch13 compartment and the IMC in late blood-stage parasites.

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“…The plasma membrane is subtended by a membrane organelle called the inner membrane complex (IMC), which is the defining structure of the alveolates, the superphylum of organisms the apicomplexans belong to. On the cytoplasmic face of the IMC, a complex and stable membrane-associated network, the subpellicular network, is giving the parasites their shape (Harding & Frischknecht, 2020). In the narrow space (30 nm) between plasma membrane and IMC, the actin-myosin motor is located (Heintzelman, 2015; Frénal et al , 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorylation of myosin A regulatesPlasmodiumsporozoite motility and is essential for efficient malaria transmission

Ripp

Smyrnakou

Neuhoff

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Malaria-causing parasites rely on an actin-myosin based motor for the invasion of different host cells as well as tissue traversal in mosquitoes and vertebrates. The unusual myosin A of Plasmodium spp. has a unique N-terminal extension which is important for red blood cell invasion by P. falciparum merozoites in vitro and harbors a phosphorylation site at serine 19. Here, using the rodent-infecting P. berghei we show that serine 19 is essential for efficient transmission of Plasmodium by mosquitoes as S19A mutants show defects in mosquito salivary gland entry and migration of salivary gland sporozoites in both 2D and 3D environments. Our data suggests that entry into salivary glands represents the strongest barrier in parasite transmission and hence is the key determinant for evolution of the motility and invasion machinery of these parasites.

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The Riveting Cellular Structures of Apicomplexan Parasites

Cited by 56 publications

References 105 publications

Pursuing effective vaccines against cattle diseases caused by apicomplexan protozoa

Pursuing effective vaccines against cattle diseases caused by apicomplexan protozoa

Identification of novel inner membrane complex and apical annuli proteins of the malaria parasitePlasmodium falciparum

Phosphorylation of myosin A regulatesPlasmodiumsporozoite motility and is essential for efficient malaria transmission

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