scholarly journals Optimizing bulk segregant analysis of drug resistance using Plasmodium falciparum genetic crosses conducted in humanized mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn Vendrely Brenneman ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Sudhir Kumar ◽  
Elizabeth Delgado ◽  
Lisa A. Checkley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Complex Traits ◽  
Bulk Segregant Analysis ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Humanized Mice ◽  
Drug Selection ◽  
Genetic Crosses ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Trait Locus

Background: Classical genetic crosses in malaria parasites involve isolation, genotyping, and phenotyping of multiple progeny parasites, which is time consuming and laborious. Bulk segregant analysis (BSA) offers a powerful and efficient alternative to identify loci underlying complex traits in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Methods: We have used BSA, which combines genetic crosses using humanized mice with pooled sequencing of progeny populations to measure changes in allele frequency following selection with antimalarial drugs. We used dihydroartemisinin (DHA) drug selection in two genetic crosses (Mal31xKH004 and NF54xNHP1337). We specifically investigated how synchronization, cryopreservation, and the drug selection regimen of progeny pools impacted the success of BSA experiments. Findings: We detected a strong and repeatable quantitative trait locus (QTL) at chr13 kelch13 locus in both crosses, but did not detect QTLs at ferredoxin (fd), the apicoplast ribosomal protein S10 (arps10), multidrug resistance protein 2 (mdr2). QTLs were detected using synchronized, but not unsynchronized pools, consistent with the stage-specific action of DHA. We also successfully applied BSA to cryopreserved progeny pools. Interpretation: Our results provide proof-of-principal of the utility of BSA for rapid, robust genetic mapping of drug resistance loci. Use of cryopreserved progeny pools expands the utility of BSA because we can conduct experiments using archived progeny pools from previous genetic crosses. BSA provides a powerful approach that complements traditional QTL methods for investigating the genetic architecture of resistance to antimalarials, and to reveal new or accessory loci contributing to artemisinin resistance.

scholarly journals Optimizing Bulk Segregant Analysis of Drug Resistance Using Plasmodium Falciparum Genetic Crosses Conducted in Humanized Mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn V. Brenneman ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Sudhir Kumar ◽  
Elizabeth Delgado ◽  
Lisa A. Checkley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Bulk Segregant Analysis ◽  
Humanized Mice ◽  
Genetic Crosses

scholarly journals Surprising variation in the outcome of two malaria genetic crosses using humanized mice: implications for genetic mapping and malaria biology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina A. Button-Simons ◽  
Sudhir Kumar ◽  
Nelly Carmago ◽  
Meseret T. Haile ◽  
Catherine Jett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Human Liver ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Genetic Maps ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Genetic Crosses

AbstractGenetic crosses are most powerful for linkage analysis when progeny numbers are high, when parental alleles segregate evenly and, for hermaphroditic organisms, when numbers of inbred progeny are minimized. We previously developed a novel genetic crossing platform for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, an obligately sexual, hermaphroditic protozoan, using mice carrying human hepatocytes (the human liver-chimeric FRG NOD huHep mouse) as the vertebrate host. Here we examine the statistical power of two different genetic crosses – (1) between a laboratory parasite (NF54) of African origin and a patient-derived Asian parasite, and (2) between two sympatric patient-derived Asian parasites. We generated >140 unique recombinant clones over a 12-month period from the four parental genotypes, doubling the number of unique recombinant progeny generated in the previous 30 years. Both crosses show bi-parental inheritance of plastid markers amongst recombinant progeny, in contrast to previous crosses (conducted using chimpanzee hosts) which carried single dominant plastid genotypes. Both crosses show distinctive segregation patterns. The allopatric African/Asian cross has minimal levels of inbreeding (2% of clonal progeny are inbred) and extreme skews in marker segregation, while in the sympatric Asian cross, inbred progeny predominate (66% of clonal progeny are inbred) and parental alleles segregate evenly. Using simulations, we demonstrate that these progeny arrays (particularly the sympatric Asian cross) have excellent power to map large-effect mutations to a 31 kb interval and can capture complex, epistatic interactions that were far beyond the capacity of previous malaria crosses to detect. The extreme segregation distortion in the allopatric African/Asian cross erodes power to detect linkage in several genome regions, but the repeatable distortions observed offer promising alternative approaches to identifying genes underlying traits of interest. These crosses show surprising variation in marker segregation, nevertheless, the increased progeny numbers improve our ability to rapidly map biomedically important parasite traits.Author SummaryUnderstanding how genome mutations contribute to newly emerging drug resistance in parasites like Plasmodium falciparum is important to monitor the spread of drug resistance. This scenario has been playing out in Southeast Asia with the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance. Here we show that new P. falciparum genetic crosses, using mice carrying human liver cells and infused with human red blood cells (the human liver-chimeric FRG NOD huHep/huRBC mouse), provide an important new tool for understanding complex interactions underlying drug resistance phenotypes. We report two new genetic maps with 84 and 60 unique recombinant progeny, which doubles the number of progeny available from 4 previous P. falciparum genetic crosses. Through extensive simulations we show that with 84 progeny we can find association for a gene that controls only 20% of the variation in a phenotype. We also show that a cross generated from Southeast Asian parasites collected from the same geographic region have unique characteristics not previously observed in P. falciparum genetic crosses. This Southeast Asian cross exhibits even segregation across the genome, unbiased inheritance of mitochondria and apicoplast and higher levels of inbreeding than previously observed.

scholarly journals Molecular Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 Mutations in Senegal Determined by Using Targeted Amplicon Deep Sequencing

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eldin Talundzic ◽  
Yaye D. Ndiaye ◽  
Awa B. Deme ◽  
Christian Olsen ◽  
Dhruviben S. Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Deep Sequencing ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Drug Pressure ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Health Activity ◽  
Codon Positions

ABSTRACT The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin in Southeast Asia threatens malaria control and elimination activities worldwide. Multiple polymorphisms in the P. falciparum kelch gene found in chromosome 13 (Pfk13) have been associated with artemisinin resistance. Surveillance of potential drug resistance loci within a population that may emerge under increasing drug pressure is an important public health activity. In this context, P. falciparum infections from an observational surveillance study in Senegal were genotyped using targeted amplicon deep sequencing (TADS) for Pfk13 polymorphisms. The results were compared to previously reported Pfk13 polymorphisms from around the world. A total of 22 Pfk13 propeller domain polymorphisms were identified in this study, of which 12 have previously not been reported. Interestingly, of the 10 polymorphisms identified in the present study that were also previously reported, all had a different amino acid substitution at these codon positions. Most of the polymorphisms were present at low frequencies and were confined to single isolates, suggesting they are likely transient polymorphisms that are part of naturally evolving parasite populations. The results of this study underscore the need to identify potential drug resistance loci existing within a population, which may emerge under increasing drug pressure.

scholarly journals PfGCN5, a global regulator of stress responsive genes, modulates artemisinin resistance inPlasmodium falciparum

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukul Rawat ◽  
Abhishek Kanyal ◽  
Aishwarya Sahasrabudhe ◽  
Shruthi S. Vembar ◽  
Jose-Juan Lopez-Rubio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Important Target ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Chromatin Regulator ◽  
Stress Responsive Genes ◽  
Almost All

AbstractPlasmodium falciparumhas evolved resistance to almost all front-line drugs including artemisinins, which threatens malaria control and elimination strategies. Oxidative stress and protein damage responses have emerged as key players in the generation of artemisinin resistance. In this study, we show that PfGCN5, a histone acetyltransferase, binds to the stress responsive and multi-variant family genes in poised state and regulates their expression under stress conditions. We have also provided biochemical and cellular evidences that PfGCN5 regulates stress responsive genes by acetylation of PfAlba3. Furthermore, we show that upon artemisinin exposure, genome-wide binding sites for PfGCN5 are increased and it is directly associated with the genes implicated in artemisinin resistance generation like BiP and TRiC chaperone. Moreover, inhibition of PfGCN5 in artemisinin resistant parasites, Kelch13 mutant, K13I543T and K13C580Y (RSA∼ 25% and 6%, respectively) reverses the sensitivity of the parasites to artemisinin treatment indicating its role in drug resistance generation. Together, these findings elucidate the role of PfGCN5 as a global chromatin regulator of stress-responses with potential role in modulating artemisinin drug resistance, and identify PfGCN5 as an important target against artemisinin resistant parasites.Author SummaryMalaria parasites are constantly adapting to the drugs we used to eliminate them. Thus, when we use the drugs to kill parasites; with time, we select the parasites with the favourable genetic changes. Parasites develop various strategies to overcome exposure to the drugs by exhibiting the stress responses. The changes specific to the drug adapted parasites can be used to understand the mechanism of drug resistance generation. In this study, we have identified PfGCN5 as a global transcriptional regulator of stress responses inPlasmodium falciparum. Inhibition of PfGCN5 reverses the sensitivity of the parasites to the artemisinin drug and identify PfGCN5 as an important target against artemisinin resistant parasites.

scholarly journals Screening for antifolate and artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates from three hospitals of Eritrea

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 628
Author(s):  
Harriet Natabona Mukhongo ◽  
Johnson Kang'ethe Kinyua ◽  
Yishak Gebrekidan Weldemichael ◽  
Remmy Wekesa Kasili
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Genetic Mechanism ◽  
Dried Blood Spot ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Blood Spot

Background: Antimalarial drug resistance is a major challenge hampering malaria control and elimination. Plasmodium falciparum, the leading causative parasite species, has developed resistance to basically all antimalarials. Continued surveillance of drug resistance using genetic markers provides important molecular data for treatment policies. This study sought to verify the genetic mechanism of resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and assess the occurrence of point mutations associated with artemisinin resistance in P. falciparum clinical isolates from Eritrea. Methods: Nineteen dried blood spot samples were collected from patients visiting Adi Quala, Keren and Gash Barka Hospitals, Eritrea. The patients were followed up after receiving treatment with first line artesunate-amodiaquine. Nested polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing techniques were employed to genotype point mutations in the P. falciparum bifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (Pfdhfr, PF3D7_0417200), dihydropteorate synthase (Pfdhps, PF3D7_0810800) and kelch 13 (PfK13, PF3D7_1343700) genes. Results: Eight of nineteen (42%) of the dried blood spot samples were successful for PCR-amplification. Data analyses of the PCR-positive isolates revealed the following point mutations: Pfdhfr N51I in four isolates, C59R in one isolate, S108N in four isolates, a rare non-synonymous substitution V45A in four isolates and Pfdhps K540E in four isolates. No PfK13 point mutations were reported. Conclusions: Pfdhfr C59R and Pfdhps K540E point mutations are reliable markers for the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine quintuple mutant haplotype combination. These findings highlight first reports in Eritrea, which verify the underlying genetic mechanism of antifolate resistance. Continuous monitoring of the PfK13 marker is recommended.

scholarly journals The Malaria TaqMan Array Card Includes 87 Assays for Plasmodium falciparum Drug Resistance, Identification of Species, and Genotyping in a Single Reaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suporn Pholwat ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Suzanne Stroup ◽  
Shevin T. Jacob ◽  
Patrick Banura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Antimalarial Resistance ◽  
Resistance Markers ◽  
Taqman Array

ABSTRACT Antimalarial drug resistance exacerbates the global disease burden and complicates eradication efforts. To facilitate the surveillance of resistance markers in countries of malaria endemicity, we developed a suite of TaqMan assays for known resistance markers and compartmentalized them into a single array card (TaqMan array card, TAC). We included 87 assays for species identification, for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum mutations associated with chloroquine, atovaquone, pyrimethamine, sulfadoxine, and artemisinin resistance, and for neutral single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Assay performance was first optimized using DNA from common laboratory parasite lines and plasmid controls. The limit of detection was 0.1 to 10 pg of DNA and yielded 100% accuracy compared to sequencing. The tool was then evaluated on 87 clinical blood samples from around the world, and the malaria TAC once again achieved 100% accuracy compared to sequencing and in addition detected the presence of mixed infections in clinical samples. With its streamlined protocol and high accuracy, this malaria TAC should be a useful tool for large-scale antimalarial resistance surveillance.

scholarly journals Sustained Ex Vivo Susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to Artemisinin Derivatives but Increasing Tolerance to Artemisinin Combination Therapy Partner Quinolines in The Gambia

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred Amambua-Ngwa ◽  
Joseph Okebe ◽  
Haddijatou Mbye ◽  
Sukai Ceesay ◽  
Fatima El-Fatouri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Artemisinin Combination Therapy ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Microsatellite Variation

ABSTRACT Antimalarial interventions have yielded a significant decline in malaria prevalence in The Gambia, where artemether-lumefantrine (AL) has been used as a first-line antimalarial for a decade. Clinical Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected from 2012 to 2015 were analyzed ex vivo for antimalarial susceptibility and genotyped for drug resistance markers (pfcrt K76T, pfmdr1 codons 86, 184, and 1246, and pfk13) and microsatellite variation. Additionally, allele frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from other drug resistance-associated genes were compared from genomic sequence data sets from 2008 (n = 79) and 2014 (n = 168). No artemisinin resistance-associated pfk13 mutation was found, and only 4% of the isolates tested in 2015 showed significant growth after exposure to dihydroartemisinin. Conversely, the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of amodiaquine and lumefantrine increased within this period. pfcrt 76T and pfmdr1 184F mutants remained at a prevalence above 80%. pfcrt 76T was positively associated with higher IC50s to chloroquine. pfmdr1 NYD increased in frequency between 2012 and 2015 due to lumefantrine selection. The TNYD (pfcrt 76T and pfmdr1 NYD wild-type haplotype) also increased in frequency following AL implementation in 2008. These results suggest selection for pfcrt and pfmdr1 genotypes that enable tolerance to lumefantrine. Increased tolerance to lumefantrine calls for sustained chemotherapeutic monitoring in The Gambia to minimize complete artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) failure in the future.

scholarly journals Plasmodium falciparum Genetic Diversity in Continental Equatorial Guinea before and after Introduction of Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Guerra ◽  
Rita Neres ◽  
Patrícia Salgueiro ◽  
Cristina Mendes ◽  
Nicolas Ndong-Mabale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Artemisinin Resistance ◽  
Equatorial Guinea ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT Efforts to control malaria may affect malaria parasite genetic variability and drug resistance, the latter of which is associated with genetic events that promote mechanisms to escape drug action. The worldwide spread of drug resistance has been a major obstacle to controlling Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and thus the study of the origin and spread of associated mutations may provide some insights into the prevention of its emergence. This study reports an analysis of P. falciparum genetic diversity, focusing on antimalarial resistance-associated molecular markers in two socioeconomically different villages in mainland Equatorial Guinea. The present study took place 8 years after a previous one, allowing the analysis of results before and after the introduction of an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), i.e., artesunate plus amodiaquine. Genetic diversity was assessed by analysis of the Pfmsp2 gene and neutral microsatellite loci. Pfdhps and Pfdhfr alleles associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance and flanking microsatellite loci were investigated, and the prevalences of drug resistance-associated point mutations of the Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps genes were estimated. Further, to monitor the use of ACT, we provide the baseline prevalences of K13 propeller mutations and Pfmdr1 copy numbers. After 8 years, noticeable differences occurred in the distribution of genotypes conferring resistance to chloroquine and SP, and the spread of mutated genotypes differed according to the setting. Regarding artemisinin resistance, although mutations reported as being linked to artemisinin resistance were not present at the time, several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed in the K13 gene, suggesting that closer monitoring should be maintained to prevent the possible spread of artemisinin resistance in Africa.

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