Glucose acquisition is essential for the long-term survival of adult Clonorchis sinensis within the host bile duct. Although several glucose transporter-related proteins have been identified in C. sinensis, the molecular and functional properties of facilitative glucose transport proteins, including the protein designated as glucose transporter protein 5 (CsGTP5) in this study, have not been characterized. In this study, CsGTP5 was cloned from adult C. sinensis and functionally analyzed using the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system. The CsGTP5 open reading frame comprised 1,575 bp and encoded a 524-amino-acid protein with 12 predicted transmembrane domains, consistent with the topology of facilitative glucose transporter-like proteins. CsGTP5-expressing oocytes showed significantly increased uptake of [3 H] deoxy-D-glucose compared with water-injected control oocytes, whereas no significant uptake was observed for other tested substrates, including arginine, α-ketoglutarate, p-aminohippurate, taurocholate, and tetraethylammonium. CsGTP5-mediated [3 H] deoxy-D-glucose uptake increased in a time-dependent manner and was not affected by replacement of extracellular Na+ with Li+ or choline, indicating sodium-independent transport. Uptake was saturable, with an apparent Km of 4.0 mM and a Vmax of 300.0 pmol/oocyte/h. Competition assays showed that deoxy-D-glucose and glucose strongly inhibited CsGTP5-mediated uptake, whereas other monosaccharides had little effect. Molecular docking analysis further supported the predicted glucose-recognition capacity of CsGTP5. These findings demonstrate that CsGTP5 mediates sodium-independent deoxy-D-glucose uptake in a heterologous oocyte expression system and provide a basis for further investigation of its physiological role in C. sinensis.
Ernest Mazigo, Hojong Jun, Wang-Jong Lee, Johnsy Mary Louis, Fadhila Fitriana, Jadidan Hada Syahada, Fauzi Muh, Feng Lu, Md Atique Ahmed, Seok Ho Cha, Wanjoo Chun, Won Sun Park, Se Jin Lee, Sunghun Na, Joon-Hee Han, Nyalali Kija, Smart Geodfrey, Eun-Teak Han, Jim Todd, Alphaxard Manjurano, Winifrida Kidima, Jin-Hee Han
Parasites Hosts Dis 2025;63(1):57-65. Published online February 25, 2025
As many countries implement different programs aimed at eliminating malaria, attention should be given to asymptomatic carriers that may interrupt the progress. This was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in Tanzania from December 2022 to July 2023 within 4 villages from each of the 3 regions, Geita and Kigoma, which are high malaria transmission, and Arusha, which is low transmission. Malaria was diagnosed in asymptomatic individuals aged 1 year and older using the malaria rapid diagnostic test and light microscope. A total of 2,365 of 3,489 (67.9%) participants were enrolled from high-transmission villages. The overall prevalence was 25.5% and 15.8% by malaria rapid diagnostic test and light microscope, respectively. Using the respective tools, the prevalence was significantly higher at 35.6% (confidence interval (CI)=23.6–49.9) and 23.1% (CI=16.2–35.1) in the high-transmission regions (Geita and Kigoma) compared with 2.9% (CI=1.1–3.5) and 1.1% (CI=0.7–1.8) in the low-transmission region (Arusha). Children younger than 15 years and males accounted for the greatest proportion of infections. In the study area, the prevalence of asymptomatic cases was higher than that of reported symptomatic cases in health facilities. We hypothesize that these parasite reservoirs may contribute to the persistence of malaria in the country. Therefore, to achieve comprehensive malaria control in the country, the surveillance and screening of asymptomatic malaria cases are vital.
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