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Apical membrane antigen 1 mediates apicomplexan parasite attachment but is dispensable for host cell invasion

Daniel Y Bargieri1, Nicole Andenmatten, Vanessa Lagal

  • 11] Institut Pasteur, Malaria Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France [2].

Nature Communications
|October 11, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Apicomplexan parasites invade host cells. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is not essential for invasion, but rather a dispensable adhesin, impacting parasite attachment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Cell Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Apicomplexan parasites invade host cells via a unique junctional mechanism.
  • Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is a conserved protein in apicomplexans and a malaria vaccine candidate.
  • AMA1 is thought to be crucial for host cell penetration by structuring the junction and transducing force.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the essentiality of AMA1 in host cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites.
  • To determine the specific role of AMA1 during the invasion process.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of Plasmodium sporozoites, merozoites, and Toxoplasma tachyzoites lacking AMA1.
  • Phenotypic analysis of host cell attachment and penetration in genetically modified parasites.

Main Results:

  • Parasites lacking AMA1 showed impaired host cell attachment.
  • Despite attachment defects, parasites lacking AMA1 exhibited normal host cell penetration.
  • AMA1 is not essential for the invasion process itself.

Conclusions:

  • Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) functions as a dispensable adhesin, not an essential invasin, in apicomplexan zoites.
  • Targeting AMA1 or its interaction with rhoptry neck 2 may not be effective for blocking parasite invasion.
  • Findings impact the development of intervention strategies against apicomplexan-caused diseases like malaria.

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