Theranostics 2019; 9(10):2768-2778. doi:10.7150/thno.33467 This issue Cite

Research Paper

A tracer-based method enables tracking of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites during human skin infection

Béatrice M.F. Winkel1,2, Clarize M. de Korne1,2, Matthias N. van Oosterom2, Diego Staphorst2, Anton Bunschoten2,3, Marijke C.C. Langenberg1, Séverine C. Chevalley-Maurel1, Chris J. Janse1, Blandine Franke-Fayard1, Fijs W.B. van Leeuwen2, Meta Roestenberg1,4✉

1. Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
2. Interventional Molecular Imaging laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
3. Laboratory of BioNanoTechnology Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
4. Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

Citation:
Winkel BMF, de Korne CM, van Oosterom MN, Staphorst D, Bunschoten A, Langenberg MCC, Chevalley-Maurel SC, Janse CJ, Franke-Fayard B, van Leeuwen FWB, Roestenberg M. A tracer-based method enables tracking of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites during human skin infection. Theranostics 2019; 9(10):2768-2778. doi:10.7150/thno.33467. https://www.thno.org/v09p2768.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Introduction: The skin stage of malaria is a vital and vulnerable migratory life stage of the parasite. It has been characterised in rodent models, but remains wholly uninvestigated for human malaria parasites. To enable in depth analysis of not genetically modified (non-GMO) Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoite behaviour in human skin, we devised a labelling technology (Cy5M2, targeting the sporozoite mitochondrion) that supports tracking of individual non-GMO sporozoites in human skin.

Methods: Sporozoite labelling with Cy5M2 was performed in vitro as well as via the feed of infected Anopheles mosquitos. Labelling was validated using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry and the fitness of labelled sporozoites was determined by analysis of infectivity to human hepatocytes in vitro, and in vivo in a rodent infection model. Using confocal video microscopy and custom software, single-sporozoite tracking studies in human skin-explants were performed.

Results: Both in vitro and in mosquito labelling strategies yielded brightly fluorescent sporozoites of three different Plasmodium species. Cy5M2 uptake colocalized with MitoTracker® green and could be blocked using the known Translocator protein (TSPO)-inhibitor PK11195. This method supported the visualization and subsequent quantitative analysis of the migration patterns of individual non-GMO Pf sporozoites in human skin and did not affect the fitness of sporozoites.

Conclusions: The ability to label and image non-GMO Plasmodium sporozoites provides the basis for detailed studies on the human skin stage of malaria with potential for in vivo translation. As such, it is an important tool for development of vaccines based on attenuated sporozoites and their route of administration.

Keywords: malaria, sporozoites, skin, molecular Imaging, cell tracking


Citation styles

APA
Winkel, B.M.F., de Korne, C.M., van Oosterom, M.N., Staphorst, D., Bunschoten, A., Langenberg, M.C.C., Chevalley-Maurel, S.C., Janse, C.J., Franke-Fayard, B., van Leeuwen, F.W.B., Roestenberg, M. (2019). A tracer-based method enables tracking of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites during human skin infection. Theranostics, 9(10), 2768-2778. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.33467.

ACS
Winkel, B.M.F.; de Korne, C.M.; van Oosterom, M.N.; Staphorst, D.; Bunschoten, A.; Langenberg, M.C.C.; Chevalley-Maurel, S.C.; Janse, C.J.; Franke-Fayard, B.; van Leeuwen, F.W.B.; Roestenberg, M. A tracer-based method enables tracking of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites during human skin infection. Theranostics 2019, 9 (10), 2768-2778. DOI: 10.7150/thno.33467.

NLM
Winkel BMF, de Korne CM, van Oosterom MN, Staphorst D, Bunschoten A, Langenberg MCC, Chevalley-Maurel SC, Janse CJ, Franke-Fayard B, van Leeuwen FWB, Roestenberg M. A tracer-based method enables tracking of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites during human skin infection. Theranostics 2019; 9(10):2768-2778. doi:10.7150/thno.33467. https://www.thno.org/v09p2768.htm

CSE
Winkel BMF, de Korne CM, van Oosterom MN, Staphorst D, Bunschoten A, Langenberg MCC, Chevalley-Maurel SC, Janse CJ, Franke-Fayard B, van Leeuwen FWB, Roestenberg M. 2019. A tracer-based method enables tracking of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites during human skin infection. Theranostics. 9(10):2768-2778.

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