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Author Spotlight: Exploring Plasma Membrane Repair Mechanisms with Innovative Thermoplasmonic Puncturing
Published on: January 19, 2024
Plasma membrane repair involvement in parasitic and other pathogen infections
1Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Abstract:
Intracellular pathogens depend on specific mechanisms to be able to gain entry and survive into their host cells. For this, they subvert pathways involved in physiological cellular processes. Here we are going to focus on how two protozoan parasites, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania sp, which may cause severe diseases in humans, use plasma membrane repair (PMR) mechanisms to gain entry in host intracellular environment. T. cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a disease originally endemic of central and South America, but that has become widespread around the globe. T. cruzi is able to invade any nucleated cell, but muscle cells are usually the main targets during chronic disease. During host cell contact, the parasite interacts with proteins at the host cell surface and may cause damage to their membrane, which has been shown to be responsible for inducing intracellular calcium increase and PMR-related events that culminate with parasite internalization. The same was recently observed for Leishmania sp, when infecting nonprofessional phagocytic cells, such as fibroblasts. Other pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria may also use PMR-related events for invasion and vacuole escape/maturation. In some cases, PMR may also be responsible to modulate pathogen intracellular development. These other PMR roles in pathogen infections will also be briefly discussed.
Insights
Protozoan parasites like Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania sp. invade host cells by hijacking plasma membrane repair (PMR) mechanisms. This process is crucial for pathogen entry and intracellular survival, impacting diseases like Chagas disease.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Intracellular pathogens require specialized strategies to enter and survive within host cells.
- These pathogens often manipulate host cellular processes, including plasma membrane repair (PMR).
- Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) and Leishmania sp. are protozoan parasites causing significant human diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania sp. utilize host plasma membrane repair (PMR) mechanisms for cellular invasion.
- To explore the role of PMR in the intracellular lifecycle and pathogenesis of these parasites.
- To briefly discuss the broader implications of PMR in infections by other pathogens like viruses and bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Observational studies on host-pathogen interactions.
- Analysis of cellular signaling pathways, particularly calcium influx.
- Investigation of plasma membrane dynamics during parasite invasion.
Main Results:
- Parasite interaction with host cells can induce membrane damage, triggering calcium increase and PMR events.
- PMR mechanisms are subverted by T. cruzi and Leishmania sp. to facilitate entry into host cells.
- Evidence suggests PMR also plays a role in vacuole maturation and pathogen development within host cells.
Conclusions:
- Plasma membrane repair (PMR) is a critical host pathway exploited by protozoan parasites for invasion.
- Targeting PMR could offer novel therapeutic strategies against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis.
- PMR modulation is a common theme in host-pathogen interactions across diverse microbial agents.
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