Membrane trafficking pathways play central roles in cell physiology, including in responses to environmental challenges like infection with microorganisms. Some pathogens are destroyed by these pathways, while others subvert their function. Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that multiplies in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells within a self-made membrane-bound compartment - the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). The PV membrane has a unique lipid and protein composition, and the PV does not fuse with any endocytic or exocytic organelles. However, we showed that the parasite's intracellular survival relies on nutrients present in mammalian organelles. For example, T. gondii retrieves cholesterol and sphingolipids from endocytic organelles and Golgi vesicles, respectively, which raises the perplexing question of how T. gondii can access the lipid content of these organelles without fusion. To address this issue, we analyzed vesicular trafficking pathways in infected mammalian cells. T. gondii targets several host pathways and intercepts the mammalian traffic mediated by Rab recycling and secretory vesicles. All of these Rab vesicles are re-routed to the PV and then sequestered intact in the vacuolar lumen. Golgi Rab vesicles trapped in the PV contain sphingolipids that are salvaged by the parasite. Our hypothesis is that T. gondii acquires the needed lipids by macroendocytosis of nutrient-filled vesicles into the PV. The goals of this application will be to unravel the complexity of this process in mechanistic detail and identify future targets for intervention. We will conduct genetic cell biological and biochemical approaches to characterize the interactions of the PV with mammalian Rab GTPases and their effectors; to identify the parasite and mammalian proteins that mediate the transport of Rab vesicles to and across the PV membrane; and to analyze the fate of the scavenged lipids in the parasite by characterizing the function of lipid transporters. . gondii can cause fatal encephalitis in immunocompromised individuals, and current treatment options for toxoplasmosis are limited and poorly tolerated. Rab GTPases and Rab-regulated pathways are important targets in human disease, yet are underexplored as therapeutic targets. Using Rab GTPAses as markers to understand the process of host vesicle uptake by T. gondii, we expect to identify key factors usurped from the host cell and/or expressed by T. gondii to expose new vulnerabilities for the parasite. Studying the mechanisms used by this parasite to control Rab-mediated vesicle trafficking may yield valuable insights into how these GTPases coordinate membrane transport in healthy cells.

Public Health Relevance

Membrane trafficking pathways play central roles in cell physiology and responses to challenges by microorganisms. Some pathogens are destroyed by these pathways, while others subvert their function during infection. Our goal is to study the mechanisms of vesicular trafficking in mammalian cells and their role in infection by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, an opportunistic pathogen in HIV/AIDS patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI060767-13
Application #
9595384
Study Section
Membrane Biology and Protein Processing Study Section (MBPP)
Program Officer
Mcgugan, Glen C
Project Start
2004-06-01
Project End
2020-11-30
Budget Start
2018-12-01
Budget End
2019-11-30
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
Coppens, Isabelle; Romano, Julia D (2018) Hostile intruder: Toxoplasma holds host organelles captive. PLoS Pathog 14:e1006893
Coleman, Bradley I; Saha, Sudeshna; Sato, Seiko et al. (2018) A Member of the Ferlin Calcium Sensor Family Is Essential for Toxoplasma gondii Rhoptry Secretion. MBio 9:
Coppens, Isabelle; Romano, Julia D (2018) Correction: Hostile intruder: Toxoplasma holds host organelles captive. PLoS Pathog 14:e1007018
Nolan, Sabrina J; Romano, Julia D; Kline, John T et al. (2018) Novel Approaches To Kill Toxoplasma gondii by Exploiting the Uncontrolled Uptake of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Vulnerability to Lipid Storage Inhibition of the Parasite. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 62:
Nolan, Sabrina J; Romano, Julia D; Coppens, Isabelle (2017) Host lipid droplets: An important source of lipids salvaged by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 13:e1006362
Di Cristina, Manlio; Dou, Zhicheng; Lunghi, Matteo et al. (2017) Toxoplasma depends on lysosomal consumption of autophagosomes for persistent infection. Nat Microbiol 2:17096
Romano, Julia D; Nolan, Sabrina J; Porter, Corey et al. (2017) The parasite Toxoplasma sequesters diverse Rab host vesicles within an intravacuolar network. J Cell Biol 216:4235-4254
Pszenny, Viviana; Ehrenman, Karen; Romano, Julia D et al. (2016) A Lipolytic Lecithin:Cholesterol Acyltransferase Secreted by Toxoplasma Facilitates Parasite Replication and Egress. J Biol Chem 291:3725-46
Romano, Julia D; de Beaumont, Catherine; Carrasco, Jose A et al. (2013) A novel co-infection model with Toxoplasma and Chlamydia trachomatis highlights the importance of host cell manipulation for nutrient scavenging. Cell Microbiol 15:619-46
Lige, Bao; Sampels, Vera; Coppens, Isabelle (2013) Characterization of a second sterol-esterifying enzyme in Toxoplasma highlights the importance of cholesterol storage pathways for the parasite. Mol Microbiol 87:951-67

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