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Innate Immune Recognition of an AT-Rich Stem-Loop DNA Motif in the Plasmodium falciparum Genome

  • Shruti Sharma
  • , Rosane B. DeOliveira
  • , Parisa Kalantari
  • , Peggy Parroche
  • , Nadege Goutagny
  • , Zhaozhao Jiang
  • , Jennie Chan
  • , Daniella C. Bartholomeu
  • , Fanny Lauw
  • , J. Perry Hall
  • , Glen N. Barber
  • , Ricardo T. Gazzinelli
  • , Katherine A. Fitzgerald
  • , Douglas T. Golenbock

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Although Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) has been implicated in cytokine and type I interferon (IFN) production during malaria in humans and mice, the high AT content of the Plasmodium falciparum genome prompted us to examine the possibility that malarial DNA triggered TLR9-independent pathways. Over 6000 ATTTTTAC (" AT-rich" ) motifs are present in the genome of P. falciparum, which we show here potently induce type I IFNs. Parasite DNA, parasitized erythrocytes and oligonucleotides containing the AT-rich motif induce type I IFNs via a pathway that did not involve the previously described sensors TLR9, DAI, RNA polymerase-III or IFI16/p204. Rather, AT-rich DNA sensing involved an unknown receptor that coupled to the STING, TBK1 and IRF3-IRF7 signaling pathway. Mice lacking IRF3, IRF7, the kinase TBK1 or the type I IFN receptor were resistant to otherwise lethal cerebral malaria. Collectively, these observations implicate AT-rich DNA sensing via STING, TBK1 and IRF3-IRF7 in P. falciparum malaria.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)194-207
Number of pages14
JournalImmunity
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 26 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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