Impact of Schistosoma mansoni on Malaria Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background

Sub-Saharan Africa harbors the majority of the global burden of malaria and schistosomiasis infections. The co-endemicity of these two tropical diseases has prompted investigation into the mechanisms of coinfection, particularly the competing immunological responses associated with each disease. Epidemiological studies have shown that infection with Schistosoma mansoni is associated with a greater malaria incidence among school-age children.

Methodology

We developed a co-epidemic model of malaria and S. mansoni transmission dynamics which takes into account key epidemiological interaction between the two diseases in terms of elevated malaria incidence among individuals with S. mansoni high egg output. The model was parameterized for S. mansoni high-risk endemic communities, using epidemiological and clinical data of the interaction between S. mansoni and malaria among children in sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated the potential impact of the S. mansoni–malaria interaction and mass treatment of schistosomiasis on malaria prevalence in co-endemic communities.

Principal Findings

Our results suggest that in the absence of mass drug administration of praziquantel, the interaction between S. mansoni and malaria may reduce the effectiveness of malaria treatment for curtailing malaria transmission, in S. mansoni high-risk endemic communities. However, when malaria treatment is used in combination with praziquantel, mass praziquantel administration may increase the effectiveness of malaria control intervention strategy for reducing malaria prevalence in malaria- S. mansoni co-endemic communities.

Conclusions/Significance

Schistosomiasis treatment and control programmes in regions where S. mansoni and malaria are highly prevalent may have indirect benefits on reducing malaria transmission as a result of disease interactions. In particular, mass praziquantel administration may not only have the direct benefit of reducing schistosomiasis infection, it may also reduce malaria transmission and disease burden.     

Altered Ca2+ signaling in skeletal muscle fibers of the R6/2 mouse,a model of Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat within the gene encoding the protein huntingtin. The resulting elongated glutamine (poly-Q) sequence of mutant huntingtin (mhtt) affects both central neurons and skeletal muscle. Recent reports suggest that ryanodine receptor–based Ca²⁺ signaling, which is crucial for skeletal muscle excitation–contraction coupling (ECC), is changed by mhtt in HD neurons. Consequently, we searched for alterations of ECC in muscle fibers of the R6/2 mouse, a mouse model of HD. We performed fluorometric recordings of action potentials (APs) and cellular Ca²⁺ transients on intact isolated toe muscle fibers (musculi interossei), and measured L-type Ca²⁺ inward currents on internally dialyzed fibers under voltage-clamp conditions. Both APs and AP-triggered Ca²⁺ transients showed slower kinetics in R6/2 fibers than in fibers from wild-type mice. Ca²⁺ removal from the myoplasm and Ca²⁺ release flux from the sarcoplasmic reticulum were characterized using a Ca²⁺ binding and transport model, which indicated a significant reduction in slow Ca²⁺ removal activity and Ca²⁺ release flux both after APs and under voltage-clamp conditions. In addition, the voltage-clamp experiments showed a highly significant decrease in L-type Ca²⁺ channel conductance. These results indicate profound changes of Ca²⁺ turnover in skeletal muscle of R6/2 mice and suggest that these changes may be associated with muscle pathology in HD.     

Salvaging Pyrococcus furiosus Protein Targets at SECSG

Proteins derived from the coding regions of Pyrococcus furiosus are targets for three-dimensional X-ray and NMR structure determination by the Southeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics (SECSG). Of the 2200 open reading frames (ORFs) in this organism, 220 protein targets were cloned and expressed in a high-throughput (HT) recombinant system for crystallographic studies. However, only 96 of the expressed proteins could be crystallized and, of these, only 15 have led to structures. To address this issue, SECSG has recently developed a two-tier approach to protein production and crystallization. In this approach, tier-1 efforts are focused on producing protein for new Pfu(italics?) targets using a high-throughput approach. Tier-2 protein production efforts support tier-1 activities by (1) producing additional protein for further crystallization trials, (2) producing modified protein (further purification, methylation, tag removal, selenium labeling, etc) as required and (3) serving as a salvaging pathway for failed tier-1 proteins. In a recent study using this two-tiered approach, nine structures were determined from a set of 50 Pfu proteins, which failed to produce crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis. These results validate this approach and suggest that it has application to other HT crystal structure determination applications.     

Strategic analysis in evolutionary genetics and the theory of games

This paper is written in memory of John Maynard Smith. In a brief survey it discusses essential aspects of how game theory in biology relates to its counterpart in economics, the major transition in game theory initiated by Maynard Smith, the discrepancies between genetic and phenotypic models in evolutionary biology, and a balanced way of reconciling these models. In addition, the paper discusses modern problems in understanding games at the genetic level using the examples of conflict between endosymbionts and their hosts, and the molecular interactions between parasites and the mammalian immune system.     

Motor activity and trajectory control during escape jumping in the locust <Emphasis Type="Italic">Locusta migratoria</Emphasis>

We investigated the escape jumps that locusts produce in response to approaching objects. Hindleg muscular activity during an escape jump is similar to that during a defensive kick. Locusts can direct their escape jumps up to 50° either side of the direction of their long axis at the time of hindleg flexion, allowing them to consistently jump away from the side towards which an object is approaching. Variation in jump trajectory is achieved by rolling and yawing movements of the body that are controlled by the fore- and mesothoracic legs. During hindleg flexion, a locust flexes the foreleg ipsilateral to its eventual jump trajectory and then extends the contralateral foreleg. These foreleg movements continue throughout co-contraction of the hindleg tibial muscles, pivoting the locust’s long axis towards its eventual jump trajectory. However, there are no bilateral differences in the motor programs of the left and right hindlegs that correlate with jump trajectory. Foreleg movements enable a locust to control its jump trajectory independent of the hindleg motor program, allowing a decision on jump trajectory to be made after the hindlegs have been cocked in preparation for a jump.     

Spontaneous curvature of phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid

The formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) from lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), diacylglycerol, or phosphatidylcholine plays a key role in the regulation of intracellular membrane fission events, but the underlying molecular mechanism has not been resolved. A likely possibility is that PA affects local membrane curvature facilitating membrane bending and fission. To examine this possibility, we determined the spontaneous radius of curvature (R(0p)) of PA and LPA, carrying oleoyl fatty acids, using well-established X-ray diffraction methods. We found that, under physiological conditions of pH and salt concentration (pH 7.0, 150 mM NaCl), the R(0p) values of PA and LPA were -46 A and +20 A, respectively. Thus PA has considerable negative spontaneous curvature while LPA has the most positive spontaneous curvature of any membrane lipid measured to date. The further addition of Ca(2+) did not significantly affect lipid spontaneous curvature; however, omitting NaCl from the hydration buffer greatly reduced the spontaneous curvature of PA, turning it into a cylindrically shaped lipid molecule (R(0p) of -1.3 x 10(2) A). Our quantitative data on the spontaneous radius of curvature of PA and LPA at a physiological pH and salt concentration will be instrumental in developing future models of biomembrane fission.     

Secretion of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein is affected by the signal peptide

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a secreted glycoprotein found in the extracellular matrices of skeletal tissues. Mutations associated with two human skeletal dysplasias, pseudoachondroplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, disturb COMP secretion leading to intracellular accumulation of mutant COMP, especially in chondrocytes. Here we show that the manifestation of this secretory defect is dramatically influenced by the signal peptide that targets COMP for secretion. The comparison of wild type and mutant COMP secretion directed by the COMP or BM40 signal peptide in HEK-293 cells and rat chondrosarcoma cells revealed that the BM40 signal peptide substantially enhances secretion of mutant COMP that accumulates in endoplasmic reticulum-like structures when targeted by its own signal peptide. Additionally, we demonstrate that mutant COMP forms mixed pentamers with wild type COMP. Our findings suggest that the secretory defect in pseudoachondroplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia is not specific for chondrocytes, nor does it require interaction of mutant COMP with other matrix proteins prior to transport from the cell. They also imply a previously unappreciated role for the signal peptide in the regulation of protein secretion beyond targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum.     

The Bud14p-Glc7p complex functions as a cortical regulator of dynein in budding yeast

Regulated interactions between microtubules (MTs) and the cell cortex control MT dynamics and position the mitotic spindle. In eukaryotic cells, the adenomatous polyposis coli/Kar9p and dynein/dynactin pathways are involved in guiding MT plus ends and MT sliding along the cortex, respectively. Here we identify Bud14p as a novel cortical activator of the dynein/dynactin complex in budding yeast. Bud14p accumulates at sites of polarized growth and the mother-bud neck during cytokinesis. The localization to bud and shmoo tips requires an intact actin cytoskeleton and the kelch-domain-containing proteins Kel1p and Kel2p. While cells lacking Bud14p function fail to stabilize the pre-anaphase spindle at the mother-bud neck, overexpression of Bud14p is toxic and leads to elongated astral MTs and increased dynein-dependent sliding along the cell cortex. Bud14p physically interacts with the type-I phosphatase Glc7p, and localizes Glc7p to the bud cortex. Importantly, the formation of Bud14p-Glc7p complexes is necessary to regulate MT dynamics at the cortex. Taken together, our results suggest that Bud14p functions as a regulatory subunit of the Glc7p type-I phosphatase to stabilize MT interactions specifically at sites of polarized growth.     

Assembly of an RNA-protein complex. Binding of NusB and NusE (S10) proteins to boxA RNA nucleates the formation of the antitermination complex involved in controlling rRNA transcription in Escherichia coli

Analytical ultracentrifugation and fluorescence anisotropy methods have been used to measure the equilibrium parameters that control the formation of the core subcomplex of NusB and NusE proteins and boxA RNA. This subcomplex, in turn, nucleates the assembly of the antitermination complex that is involved in controlling the synthesis of ribosomal RNA in Escherichia coli and that also participates in forming the N protein-dependent antitermination complex in lambdoid phage synthesis. In this study we determined the dissociation constants (K(d) values) for the individual binary interactions that participate in the assembly of the ternary NusB-NusE-boxA RNA subassembly, and we showed that multiple equilibria, involving both specific and nonspecific binding, are involved in the assembly pathway of this protein-RNA complex. The measured K(d) values were used to model the in vitro assembly reaction and combined with in vivo concentration data to simulate the overall control of the assembly of this complex in E. coli at two different cellular growth rates. The results showed that at both growth rates assembly proceeds via the initial formation of a weak but specific NusB-boxA complex, which is then stabilized by NusE binding. We showed that NusE also binds nonspecifically to available single-stranded RNA sequences and that such nonspecific protein binding to RNA can help to regulate crucial interactions in the assembly of the various macromolecular machines of gene expression.