Expression of Plasmodium Major Facilitator Superfamily Protein in Transporters-Delta Candida Identifies a Drug Transporter

Abstract

AimTo assess the functional relevance of a putative Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) protein (PF3D7_0210300; "PfMFS_DT") as a drug transporter, using Candida glabrata for orthologous protein expression. MethodsCDS encoding PfMFS_DT was integrated into the genome of genetically engineered C. glabrata strain MSY8 via homologous recombination, followed by assessing its functional relevance as a drug transporter. Results and ConclusionThe modified C. glabrata strain exhibited plasma membrane localization of PfMFS_DT and characteristics of an MFS transporter, conferring resistance to antifungals, ketoconazole and itraconazole. The nanomolar inhibitory effects of the drugs on the intra-erythrocytic growth of P. falciparum highlight their antimalarial properties. This study proposes PfMFS_DT as a drug transporter, expanding the repertoire of the currently known antimalarial "resistome".