scholarly journals Plasmodium vinckei genomes provide insights into the pan-genome and evolution of rodent malaria parasites

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinay Ramaprasad ◽  
Severina Klaus ◽  
Olga Douvropoulou ◽  
Richard Culleton ◽  
Arnab Pain
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Genotypic Diversity ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Multigene Families ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria ◽  
Plasmodium Vinckei

Abstract Background Rodent malaria parasites (RMPs) serve as tractable tools to study malaria parasite biology and host-parasite-vector interactions. Among the four RMPs originally collected from wild thicket rats in sub-Saharan Central Africa and adapted to laboratory mice, Plasmodium vinckei is the most geographically widespread with isolates collected from five separate locations. However, there is a lack of extensive phenotype and genotype data associated with this species, thus hindering its use in experimental studies. Results We have generated a comprehensive genetic resource for P. vinckei comprising of five reference-quality genomes, one for each of its subspecies, blood-stage RNA sequencing data for five P. vinckei isolates, and genotypes and growth phenotypes for ten isolates. Additionally, we sequenced seven isolates of the RMP species Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium yoelii, thus extending genotypic information for four additional subspecies enabling a re-evaluation of the genotypic diversity and evolutionary history of RMPs. The five subspecies of P. vinckei have diverged widely from their common ancestor and have undergone large-scale genome rearrangements. Comparing P. vinckei genotypes reveals region-specific selection pressures particularly on genes involved in mosquito transmission. Using phylogenetic analyses, we show that RMP multigene families have evolved differently across the vinckei and berghei groups of RMPs and that family-specific expansions in P. chabaudi and P. vinckei occurred in the common vinckei group ancestor prior to speciation. The erythrocyte membrane antigen 1 and fam-c families in particular show considerable expansions among the lowland forest-dwelling P. vinckei parasites. The subspecies from the highland forests of Katanga, P. v. vinckei, has a uniquely smaller genome, a reduced multigene family repertoire and is also amenable to transfection making it an ideal parasite for reverse genetics. We also show that P. vinckei parasites are amenable to genetic crosses. Conclusions Plasmodium vinckei isolates display a large degree of phenotypic and genotypic diversity and could serve as a resource to study parasite virulence and immunogenicity. Inclusion of P. vinckei genomes provide new insights into the evolution of RMPs and their multigene families. Amenability to genetic crossing and transfection make them also suitable for classical and functional genetics to study Plasmodium biology.

scholarly journals Plasmodium vinckei genomes provide insights into the pan-genome and evolution of rodent malaria parasites

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinay Ramaprasad ◽  
Severina Klaus ◽  
Olga Douvropoulou ◽  
Richard Culleton ◽  
Arnab Pain
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Structural Variations ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Rodent Malaria ◽  
Plasmodium Vinckei

AbstractBackgroundRodent malaria parasites (RMPs) serve as tractable tools to study malaria parasite biology and host-parasite-vector interactions. Plasmodium vinckei is the most geographically widespread of the four RMP species collected in sub-Saharan Central Africa. Several P. vinckei isolates are available but relatively less characterized than other RMPs, thus hindering their use in experimental studies. We have generated a comprehensive resource for P. vinckei comprising of high-quality reference genomes, genotypes, gene expression profiles and growth phenotypes for ten P. vinckei isolates.ResultsThe P. vinckei subspecies have diverged widely from their common ancestor and have undergone genomic structural variations. The subspecies from Katanga, P. v. vinckei, has a uniquely smaller genome, a reduced multigene family repertoire and is also amenable to genetic manipulation making it an ideal parasite for reverse genetics. Comparing P. vinckei genotypes reveals region-specific selection pressures particularly on genes involved in mosquito transmission. The erythrocyte membrane antigen 1 and fam-c families have expanded considerably among the lowland forest-dwelling P. vinckei parasites. Genetic crosses can be established in P. vinckei but are limited at present by low transmission success under the experimental conditions tested in this study.ConclusionsPlasmodium vinckei isolates display a large degree of phenotypic and genotypic diversity and could serve as a resource to study parasite virulence and immunogenicity. Inclusion of P. vinckei genomes provide new insights into the evolution of RMPs and their multigene families. Amenability to genetic crossing and genetic manipulation make them also suitable for classical and functional genetics to study Plasmodium biology.

Observations on the morphology and electrophoretic variation of enzymes of the rodent malaria parasites of Cameroon, Plasmodium yoelii, P. chabaudi and P. vinckei

Parasitology ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. Lainson
Keyword(s):  
Central African Republic ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Mixed Infections ◽  
Electrophoretic Variation ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria ◽  
Plasmodium Vinckei

SUMMARYSix samples of rodent blood infected with malaria parasites were isolated from Cameroon. Of these, 2 contained mixed infections of Plasmodium vinckei and P. yoelii, 3 contained P. vinckei alone and 1 P. chabaudi alone. Each isolate was cloned and the resulting lines examined for morphology of blood and mosquito forms, and for electrophoretic variation in enzymes. The P. chabaudi and P. yoelii lines were morphologically and enzymically identical to isolates of the Central African Republic. Similarly, 1 P. vinckei line was identical to an isolate of the Central African Republic. The remaining 4 P. vinckei lines showed considerable variation, some enzymes being like those in isolates of surrounding regions, while others were unique to Cameroon.

scholarly journals A cornucopia of research resources for the fourth rodent malaria parasite species

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane M. Carlton
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
First Century ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Rodent Malaria Parasite ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria ◽  
Human Malaria ◽  
Plasmodium Vinckei ◽  
Research Resources

AbstractThe study of human malaria caused by species of Plasmodium has undoubtedly been enriched by the use of model systems, such as the rodent malaria parasites originally isolated from African thicket rats. A significant gap in the arsenal of resources of the species that make up the rodent malaria parasites has been the lack of any such tools for the fourth of the species, Plasmodium vinckei. This has recently been rectified by Abhinay Ramaprasad and colleagues, whose pivotal paper published in BMC Biology describes a cornucopia of new P. vinckei ‘omics datasets, mosquito transmission experiments, transfection protocols, and virulence phenotypes, to propel this species firmly into the twenty-first century.

scholarly journals Genome sequence, transcriptome, and annotation of rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis N67

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cui Zhang ◽  
Cihan Oguz ◽  
Sue Huse ◽  
Lu Xia ◽  
Jian Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria

Abstract Background Rodent malaria parasites are important models for studying host-malaria parasite interactions such as host immune response, mechanisms of parasite evasion of host killing, and vaccine development. One of the rodent malaria parasites is Plasmodium yoelii, and multiple P. yoelii strains or subspecies that cause different disease phenotypes have been widely employed in various studies. The genomes and transcriptomes of several P. yoelii strains have been analyzed and annotated, including the lethal strains of P. y. yoelii YM (or 17XL) and non-lethal strains of P. y. yoelii 17XNL/17X. Genomic DNA sequences and cDNA reads from another subspecies P. y. nigeriensis N67 have been reported for studies of genetic polymorphisms and parasite response to drugs, but its genome has not been assembled and annotated. Results We performed genome sequencing of the N67 parasite using the PacBio long-read sequencing technology, de novo assembled its genome and transcriptome, and predicted 5383 genes with high overall annotation quality. Comparison of the annotated genome of the N67 parasite with those of YM and 17X parasites revealed a set of genes with N67-specific orthology, expansion of gene families, particularly the homologs of the Plasmodium chabaudi erythrocyte membrane antigen, large numbers of SNPs and indels, and proteins predicted to interact with host immune responses based on their functional domains. Conclusions The genomes of N67 and 17X parasites are highly diverse, having approximately one polymorphic site per 50 base pairs of DNA. The annotated N67 genome and transcriptome provide searchable databases for fast retrieval of genes and proteins, which will greatly facilitate our efforts in studying the parasite biology and gene function and in developing effective control measures against malaria.

scholarly journals Study for the detection of rodent malaria parasites (Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis) in mosquitoes

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Ataru Tsuzuki ◽  
Takako Touma ◽  
Hiromu Touma ◽  
Ryouya Satou ◽  
Ichirou Miyagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria

scholarly journals Extrahepatic Exoerythrocytic Forms of Rodent Malaria Parasites at the Site of Inoculation: Clearance after Immunization, Susceptibility to Primaquine, and Contribution to Blood-Stage Infection

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 2158-2164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Voza ◽  
Jessica L. Miller ◽  
Stefan H. I. Kappe ◽  
Photini Sinnis
Keyword(s):  
Common Property ◽  
Adaptive Immune Response ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Blood Stage ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blood Stage Infection ◽  
Stage Infection

ABSTRACTPlasmodiumsporozoites are inoculated into the skin of the mammalian host as infected mosquitoes probe for blood. A proportion of the inoculum enters the bloodstream and goes to the liver, where the sporozoites invade hepatocytes and develop into the next life cycle stage, the exoerythrocytic, or liver, stage. Here, we show that a small fraction of the inoculum remains in the skin and begins to develop into exoerythrocytic forms that can persist for days. Skin exoerythrocytic forms were observed for bothPlasmodium bergheiandPlasmodium yoelii, two different rodent malaria parasites, suggesting that development in the skin of the mammalian host may be a common property of plasmodia. Our studies demonstrate that skin exoerythrocytic stages are susceptible to destruction in immunized mice, suggesting that their aberrant location does not protect them from the host's adaptive immune response. However, in contrast to their hepatic counterparts, they are not susceptible to primaquine. We took advantage of their resistance to primaquine to test whether they could initiate a blood-stage infection directly from the inoculation site, and our data indicate that these stages are not able to initiate malaria infection.

scholarly journals Genome Sequence, Transcriptome, and Annotation of Rodent Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Yoelii Nigeriensis N67

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cui Zhang ◽  
Cihan Oguz ◽  
Sue Huse ◽  
Lu Xia ◽  
Jian Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria

Abstract Background: Rodent malaria parasites are important models for studying host-malaria parasite interactions such as host immune response, mechanisms of parasite evasion of host killing, and vaccine development. One of the rodent malaria parasites is Plasmodium yoelii, and multiple P. yoelii strains or subspecies that cause different disease phenotypes have been widely employed in various studies. The genomes and transcriptomes of several P. yoelii strains have been analyzed and annotated, including the lethal strains of Plasmodium y. yoelii YM (or 17XL) and non-lethal strains of Plasmodium y. yoelii 17XNL/17X. Genomic DNA sequences and cDNA reads from another subspecies P. y. nigeriensis N67 have been reported for studies of genetic polymorphisms and parasite response to drugs, but its genome has not been assembled and annotated. Results: We performed genome sequencing of the N67 parasite using the PacBio long-read sequencing technology, de novo assembled its genome and transcriptome, and predicted 5,383 genes with high overall annotation quality. Comparison of the annotated genome of the N67 parasite with those of YM and 17X parasites revealed a set of genes with N67-specific orthology, expansion of gene families, particularly the homologs of the Plasmodium chabaudi erythrocyte membrane antigen, large numbers of SNPs and indels, and proteins predicted to interact with host immune responses based on their functional domains. Conclusions: The genomes of N67 and 17X parasites are highly diverse, having approximately one polymorphic site per 50 base pairs of DNA. The annotated N67 genome and transcriptome provide searchable databases for fast retrieval of genes and proteins, which will greatly facilitate our efforts in studying the parasite biology and gene function and in developing effective control measures against malaria.

Enzyme variation in Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium vinckei

Parasitology ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Berghei ◽  
Electrophoretic Variation ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria ◽  
Enzyme Variation ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Plasmodium Vinckei ◽  
Made In

A study of electrophoretic forms of a selection of enzymes has been made in strains of subspecies of the rodent malaria parasites Plasmodium berghei and P. vinckei. Considerable electrophoretic variation of these enzymes occurred among the strains studied. On the basis of the results it was possible to identify groups of parasites within each species. While generally substantiating the classical taxonomy the identification of groups provided further information on the relationships between the subspecies.

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