Deciphering host lysosome-mediated elimination of Plasmodium berghei liver stage parasites

Sci Rep. 2019 May 28;9(1):7967. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44449-z.

Abstract

Liver stage Plasmodium parasites reside in a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) that associates with lysosomes. It has previously been shown that these organelles can have beneficial as well as harmful effects on the parasite. Yet it is not clear how the association of lysosomes with the parasite is controlled and how interactions with these organelles lead to the antagonistic outcomes. In this study we used advanced imaging techniques to characterize lysosomal interactions with the PV. In host cells harboring successfully developing parasites we observed that these interaction events reach an equilibrium at the PV membrane (PVM). In a population of arrested parasites, this equilibrium appeared to shift towards a strongly increased lysosomal fusion with the PVM witnessed by strong PVM labeling with the lysosomal marker protein LAMP1. This was followed by acidification of the PV and elimination of the parasite. To systematically investigate elimination of arrested parasites, we generated transgenic parasites that express the photosensitizer KillerRed, which leads to parasite killing after activation. Our work provides insights in cellular details of intracellular killing and lysosomal elimination of Plasmodium parasites independent of cells of the immune system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Hepatocytes / immunology
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Hepatocytes / parasitology
  • Hepatocytes / ultrastructure
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / genetics*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Light
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Lysosomal Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Lysosomal Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Lysosomes / ultrastructure
  • Malaria / genetics
  • Malaria / immunology
  • Malaria / metabolism*
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Membrane Fusion
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents / metabolism
  • Plasmodium berghei / growth & development
  • Plasmodium berghei / metabolism*
  • Plasmodium berghei / ultrastructure
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Sporozoites / growth & development
  • Sporozoites / metabolism*
  • Sporozoites / ultrastructure
  • Transgenes
  • Vacuoles / metabolism
  • Vacuoles / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Lamp1 protein, mouse
  • Lysosomal Membrane Proteins
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • killer red protein, Anthomedusae
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins