Illuminating Host-Parasite Interaction at the Cellular and Subcellular Levels with Infrared Microspectroscopy

Overview

Journal Cells

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Biophysics
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2022 Mar 10

PMID 35269433

Authors

Hany M Elsheikha

Alaa T Al-Sandaqchi

Mohammad S R Harun

Francesca Winterton

Ali Altharawi

Nashwa A Elsaied

Carl W Stevenson

William Macnaughtan

John G M Mina

Paul W Denny

Gianfelice Cinque

Ka Lung Andrew Chan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

() is an opportunistic protozoan that can cause brain infection and other serious health consequences in immuno-compromised individuals. This parasite has a remarkable ability to cross biological barriers and exploit the host cell microenvironment to support its own survival and growth. Recent advances in label-free spectroscopic imaging techniques have made it possible to study biological systems at a high spatial resolution. In this study, we used conventional Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy and synchrotron-based FTIR microspectroscopy to analyze the chemical changes that are associated with infection of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) by (RH) tachyzoites. Both FTIR microspectroscopic methods showed utility in revealing the chemical alterations in the infected hBMECs. Using a ZnS hemisphere device, to increase the numerical aperture, and the synchrotron source to increase the brightness, we obtained spatially resolved spectra from within a single cell. The spectra extracted from the nucleus and cytosol containing the tachyzoites were clearly distinguished. RNA sequencing analysis of -infected and uninfected hBMECs revealed significant changes in the expression of host cell genes and pathways in response to infection. These FTIR spectroscopic and transcriptomic findings provide significant insight into the molecular changes that occur in hBMECs during infection.

Citing Articles

Assessment of lytic cycle and the impact of a gene deletion using 3D label-free optical diffraction holotomography.

Koutsogiannis Z, Mina J, Suman R, Denny P Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023; 13:1237594.

PMID: 37600951 PMC: 10433743. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1237594.

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