Naegleria fowleri: functional expression of the Nfa1 protein in transfected Naegleria gruberi by promoter modification

Exp Parasitol. 2006 Feb;112(2):115-20. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2005.10.004.

Abstract

To establish a transient transfection system in a Naegleria, we constructed three nfa1-pEGFP-N1 vectors by the promoter replacement and insertion of a nfa1 gene and transfected the DNAs into Naegleria gruberi using a lipid reagent. The transfection efficiency and usefulness of the three modified vectors were estimated by identifying the expressions of the EGFP and Nfa1 protein from N. gruberi. After transfection, the Nfa1 protein was functionally expressed on pseudopodia of N. gruberi. The strong GFP fluorescence was observed in N. gruberi transfected with the actin-nfa1-pEGFP-N1 vector, of which the CMV promoter region in the expression vector was replaced with the actin 5' UTR region. Additionally, when transgenic N. gruberi trophozoites were co-cultured with CHO target cells, the Nfa1 protein was also located on cytoplasm and pseudopodia, especially on a food cup that was formed in contact with target cells as it shown in pathogenic N. fowleri.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / biosynthesis*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Naegleria / genetics*
  • Naegleria / metabolism
  • Plasmids
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics*
  • Protozoan Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Actins
  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Nfa1 protein, Naegleria fowleri
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins