Genetic manipulation of cell line derived reticulocytes enables dissection of host malaria invasion requirements

Satchwell, Timothy J.; Wright, Katherine E.; Haydn-Smith, Katy L.; Sánchez-Román Terán, Fernando; Moura, Pedro L.; Hawksworth, Joseph; Frayne, Jan; Toye, Ashley M.; Baum, Jake

Abstract

Investigating the role that host erythrocyte proteins play in malaria infection is hampered by the genetic intractability of this anucleate cell. Here we report that reticulocytes derived through in vitro differentiation of an enucleation-competent immortalized erythroblast cell line (BEL-A) support both successful invasion and intracellular development of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Using CRISPR-mediated gene knockout and subsequent complementation, we validate an essential role for the erythrocyte receptor basigin in P. falciparum invasion and demonstrate rescue of invasive susceptibility by receptor re-expression. Successful invasion of reticulocytes complemented with a truncated mutant excludes a functional role for the basigin cytoplasmic domain during invasion. Contrastingly, knockout of cyclophilin B, reported to participate in invasion and interact with basigin, did not impact invasive susceptibility of reticulocytes. These data establish the use of reticulocytes derived from immortalized erythroblasts as a powerful model system to explore hypotheses regarding host receptor requirements for P. falciparum invasion.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 5, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Aug 23, 2019
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jul 11, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 12, 2024
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-1723
• Publisher: Nature Research (part of Springer Nature)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 3806
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11790-w
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12120214