RMgmDB - Rodent Malaria genetically modified Parasites

Summary

RMgm-4917
Malaria parasiteP. berghei
Genotype
MutatedGene model (rodent): PBANKA_0808100; Gene model (P.falciparum): PF3D7_0317100; Gene product: 6-cysteine protein (B9)
Details mutation: The endogenous P. berghei b9 gene replaced with the P. falciparum b9 ortholog
Phenotype Sporozoite; Liver stage;
Last modified: 13 July 2021, 11:14
  *RMgm-4917
Successful modificationThe parasite was generated by the genetic modification
The mutant contains the following genetic modification(s) Gene mutation
Reference (PubMed-PMID number) Reference 1 (PMID number) : 34252120
MR4 number
Parent parasite used to introduce the genetic modification
Rodent Malaria ParasiteP. berghei
Parent strain/lineP. berghei ANKA
Name parent line/clone RMgm-932
Other information parent lineGIMO-PbANKA (RMgm-932, 1309cl1) contains as a selectable marker (SM) the fusion gene of hdhfr (human dihydrofolate reductase; positive SM) and yfcu (yeast cytosine deaminase and uridyl phosphoribosyl transferase; negative SM) stably integrated into the b9 locus (PBANKA_0808100) through double cross-over recombination. The SM is under control of the P. berghei eef1α promoter.
The mutant parasite was generated by
Name PI/ResearcherKolli SK, Salman AM, Hill AVS, Janse CJ
Name Group/DepartmentMalaria research group, Department of Parasitology
Name InstituteLeiden University Medical Center, LUMC
CityLeiden
CountryThe Netherlands
Name of the mutant parasite
RMgm numberRMgm-4917
Principal name2355cl1
Alternative name
Standardized name
Is the mutant parasite cloned after genetic modificationYes
Phenotype
Asexual blood stageNot different from wild type
Gametocyte/GameteNot different from wild type
Fertilization and ookineteNot different from wild type
OocystNot different from wild type
SporozoiteNormal numbers of sporozoites; P. falciparum transgene expression in sporozoites; sporozoites have reduced infectivity (as shown by reduced or absence of parasite liver loads after intravenous injection of sporozoites and absence of blood-stage infection or prolonged prepatent period)
Liver stageSporozoites have reduced infectivity (as shown by reduced or absence of parasite liver loads after intravenous injection of sporozoites and absence of blood-stage infection or prolonged prepatent period)
Additional remarks phenotype

Mutant/mutation
The mutant expresses P. falciparum b9. The P. falciparum b9 gene is introduced into the endogenous P. berghei b9 gene locus (by GIMO transfection of line 1309cl1) and is under control of the Pb b9 regulatory 3'- and 5'-UTR sequences. It does not contain a drug selectable marker 

The mutant has been generated and selected using the GIMO transfection method ('gene insertion/marker out') of transfection of a 'GIMO line' that contains the hdhfr::yfcu selectable marker into the b9 locus.

Protein (function)

Phenotype
Normal numbers of sporozoites; P. falciparum transgene expression in sporozoites; sporozoites have reduced infectivity (as shown by reduced or absence of parasite liver loads after intravenous injection of sporozoites and absence of blood-stage infection or prolonged prepatent period).

The failure to establish a liver infection like wild type parasites, indicates that expression of the P. falciparum protein in sporozoites has a negative impact of on sporozoite infectivity/establishment of a liver infection.

In this study 14 transgenic P. berghei parasites were generated that express P. falciparum proteins that are expressed in the sporozoite/liver stage of P. falciparum.
Six of these chimeric P. berghei parasites that produce infective sporozoites have been used in a challenge model to test the protective efficacy of novel P. falciparum viral vectored vaccine candidate antigens. Mice were immunized with the P. falciparum vaccine candidates, followed by  challenge with the transgenic P. berghei sporozoites.

Expression of the P. falciparum antigens in the transgenic sporozoites was analysed by immunofluorescence assay (using serum from vaccinated mice)  

Additional information


Other mutant
See the link for the other 14 transgenic P. berghei lines expressing P. falciparum proteins that were generated in this study


  Mutated: Mutant parasite with a mutated gene
Details of the target gene
Gene Model of Rodent Parasite PBANKA_0808100
Gene Model P. falciparum ortholog PF3D7_0317100
Gene product6-cysteine protein
Gene product: Alternative nameB9
Details of the genetic modification
Short description of the mutationThe endogenous P. berghei b9 gene replaced with the P. falciparum b9 ortholog
Inducable system usedNo
Short description of the conditional mutagenesisNot available
Additional remarks inducable system
Type of plasmid/construct(Linear) plasmid double cross-over
PlasmoGEM (Sanger) construct/vector usedNo
Modified PlasmoGEM construct/vector usedNo
Plasmid/construct map
Plasmid/construct sequence
Restriction sites to linearize plasmid
Selectable marker used to select the mutant parasitehdhfr/yfcu
Promoter of the selectable markereef1a
Selection (positive) procedureNo
Selection (negative) procedure5-fluorocytosine (5-FC)
Additional remarks genetic modificationThe ‘replacement’ chimeric parasite line expressing PfB9 (PF3D7_0317100) was generated by introducing the Pfb9 ORF into the b9 locus (PBANKA_0808100) of PbΔB9-GIMO parasites using GIMO transfection. The hdhfr::yfcu SM in PbB9 GIMO line (1309cl1) was replaced with the Pfb9 ORF by GIMO transfection to create a chimeric Pb-Pfb9(r) replacement line. This was achieved by replacing the mCherry ORF with the Pfb9 ORF, amplified from PfNF54 genomic DNA using the primers 7225/7226, into plasmid pL1695 using the restriction sites BamHI and SgrAI to obtain pL1989. Plasmid pL1989 was linearized using AflII and SacI restriction enzymes and transfected in PbΔB9-GIMO parasites using GIMO-transfection. Transfected parasites were selected by applying negative selection providing 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) in the drinking water of the mice. Negative selection results in the selection of chimeric parasites where the hdhfr::yfcu SM locus is replaced by Pfb9 ORF. Selected chimeric parasites were cloned by limiting dilution
Additional remarks selection procedureIn the mutant the negative/positive hdhfr/yfcu selectable marker cassette (in the parent 1309cl1 line) has been replaced by the P. falciparum b9 expression cassette
Primer information: Primers used for amplification of the target sequences  Click to view information
Primer information: Primers used for amplification of the target sequences  Click to hide information
Sequence Primer 1
Additional information primer 1
Sequence Primer 2
Additional information primer 2
Sequence Primer 3
Additional information primer 3
Sequence Primer 4
Additional information primer 4
Sequence Primer 5
Additional information primer 5
Sequence Primer 6
Additional information primer 6