SA85-1 proteins of Trypanosoma cruzi lack sialidase activity

Lateral flow immunoassay for diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection with high correlation to the radioimmunoprecipitation assay

The incidence of blood donors seropositive for Trypanosoma cruzi in North America has increased with population migration and more rigorous surveillance. The United States, considered nonendemic for T. cruzi, could therefore be at risk to exposure to parasite transmission through blood or organ donations. Current tests show variable reactivity, especially with Central American sera. Here we describe the development of a lateral flow immunoassay for the rapid detection of T. cruzi infection that has a strong correlation to the radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) "gold standard" in the United States. Such a test could have utility in small blood banks for prescreening donors, as well as in cardiac transplantation evaluation. T. cruzi consensus and/or RIPA-positive sera from Central and South America were evaluated in enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). These included commercial panels from Boston Biomedica, Inc. (BBI) (n = 14), and HemaBio (n = 21). Other sources included RIPA-positive sera from the American Red Cross (ARC) (n = 42), as well as from Chile. Sera were tested with the multiepitope recombinant TcF. All but one of the BBI samples were positive and 7 of 21 HemaBio samples and 6 of 42 ARC samples were low positive or negative. This observation indicated the need for additional antigens. To complement TcF reactivity, we tested the sera with peptides 30, 36, SAPA, and 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 His fragments of 85-kDa trans-sialidase. We identified a promising combination of the tested antigens and constructed a single recombinant protein, ITC6, that enhanced the relative sensitivity in U.S. blood donor sera compared to that of TcF. The data on its evaluation using RIPA-confirmed positive sera in EIA and lateral flow immunoassay studies are presented, along with an additional recombinant protein, ITC8.2, with two additional sequences for peptide 1 and Kmp-11. The latter, when evaluated in a dipstick assay with consensus positive sera, had a sensitivity of 99.2% and a specificity of 99.1%.

Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals demonstrate varied antibody responses to a panel of trans-sialidase proteins encoded by SA85-1 genes

Chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi causes significant morbidity and mortality. The parasite expresses on its surface and sheds into the extracellular milieu a large superfamily of trans-sialidase proteins. Previous studies have demonstrated that during T. cruzi infection, the trans-sialidase superfamily stimulates an antibody response, but how individuals respond to different proteins of the trans-sialidase superfamily remain poorly defined. In this report, we present an analysis of the antibody response of chronically infected individuals and inbred strains of mice to a panel of 11 different trans-sialidase proteins encoded by surface antigen 85 kD (SA85-1) genes. These data indicate that: (1) 90% of the individuals tested generated antibodies to one or more trans-sialidase proteins; (2) the individuals develop different patterns of antibody responsiveness to the panel of trans-sialidase proteins; (3) three inbred strains of mice develop trans-sialidase antibody responses, but each strain develops a different pattern of antibody response to the panel of trans-sialidase proteins; (4) the differences in the pattern of antibody response by the mouse strains are independent of MHC differences; and (5) trans-sialidase proteins that do not stimulate an antibody response during T. cruzi infection can stimulate a response following immunization. Together these data indicate that during T. cruzi infection individuals develop a diverse trans-sialidase antibody response that appears to be affected by genetic and environmental factors.

Lysosome recruitment during host cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi uses an unusual mechanism to enter cells. Recent observations revealed that instead of trypanosomes being brought in to fuse with lysosomes, it is the lysosomes that migrate to the trypanosomes and actually participate in their internalization. Signalling events involving intracellular free Ca2+ occur upon contact of the parasites with host cells and may contribute to the regulation of this unusual process.

Antigenic significance of a Trypanosoma rangeli sialidase

The Trypanosoma rangeli-secreted sialidase was purified by bovine submaxillary gland mucin-sepharose affinity chromatography. In immunoblotting analysis, antibodies raised against this molecule recognized polypeptides of 73 kDa in T. rangeli medium supernatant (TrSialr) and of 70 kDa in the cell lysates of T. rangeli (TrSials) and T. cruzi (TcSialL) epimastigotes. TrSialr, TrSials, and TcSialL were subjected to proteolytic cleavage with papain; the resultant peptide pattern displayed differences in the immunoblotting profiles. TrSials was purified by immunoprecipitation, and this protein band was recognized by sera from T. cruzi-infected chronic mice and Chagas' disease patients. In contrast, TrSialr was not recognized by these sera. The antibodies from the infected mice also recognized a band of 70 kDa present in the medium. These preliminary observations imply that the released and somatic sialidases are partially different molecules, with probably different biological roles. The related proteins recognized in T. rangeli and T. cruzi epimastigotes share many antigenic characteristics but have some structural differences, probably related to their function in the parasitic cell. On the basis of the strong antigenicity of TrSials, this molecule is proposed as the antigen for the detection of antibodies arising during T. cruzi infection.

The SA85-1.1 protein of the Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase superfamily is a dominant T-cell antigen

Trypanosoma cruzi currently infects 18 million people, and 30% of those infected develop a chronic inflammatory process that causes significant morbidity or mortality. The major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II)-restricted T-cell response is critical to the control of the infection and to the ensuing inflammatory pathology. The specific epitopes or major antigens of this response have not been identified. The parasite simultaneously expresses variant members of the trans-sialidase superfamily. To begin to analyze the MHC-II response to these variant proteins, the response to a single surface protein, SA85-1.1, was initiated. These studies have demonstrated that a biased gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) response to the SA85-1.1 protein develops during T. cruzi infection. In addition, adoptive transfer of a CD4 clone that recognizes an SA85-1.1 epitope, named epitope 1, and immunization with a peptide encoding epitope 1 were protective and suggested that epitope 1 may be immunodominant. In this report IFN-gamma intracellular staining demonstrated that splenocytes from acutely and chronically infected mice, incubated with SA85-1.1 protein or peptides that encode epitope 1, result in IFN-gamma synthesis by 4 to 6% of the splenic CD4 cells. These data indicate that during T. cruzi infection epitope 1 is a major epitope and that 4 to 6% of the CD4 cells are stimulated by a single trans-sialidase superfamily epitope and suggest that a combination of trans-sialidase superfamily proteins combines to stimulate a majority of CD4 cells. These data suggest that during T. cruzi infection the CD4 response to the trans-sialidase superfamily is critical to the protective response and to the ensuing chronic inflammatory pathology.

Trypanosoma cruzi: monoclonal antibodies to the surface glycoprotein superfamily differentiate subsets of the 85-kDa surface glycoproteins and confirm simultaneous expression of variant 85-kDa surface glycoproteins

Most surface glycoproteins expressed by mammalian-stage forms of Trypanosoma cruzi are homologous to the parasite's trans-sialidase and therefore are members of the parasite's trans-sialidase superfamily. Few members of this superfamily have trans-sialidase activity. The SA85-1 family is a subfamily of the trans-sialidase superfamily whose members lack trans-sialidase activity. The function of these non-trans-sialidase members remains unknown. In this report a series of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the SA85-1 glycoproteins is presented. The mAbs define distinct subgroups of SA85-1 glycoproteins, and these distinct subgroups are simultaneously expressed by individual trypomastigotes, supporting previous studies indicating that multiple SA85-1 glycoproteins and trans-sialidase superfamily glycoproteins are simultaneously expressed by each trypomastigote. In addition, the antibodies define two major subsets of the SA85-1 family (subset 1 and subset 2) based on differences in migration in SDS-PAGE; the subsets do not appear to be created by differences in glycosylation. Subset 1 migrates slower and is spontaneously released or shed preferentially from the parasite surface compared to subset 2. In addition, subset 1 is attached to the trypomastigote surface by a GPI linkage. Since these glycoprotein subsets are differentially expressed, they may have different functions.

Trypanosoma rangeli sialidase: kinetics of release and antigenic characterization

The epimastigote stage of Trypanosoma rangeli release a sialidase with a high sialic acid hydrolysis capacity. We demonstrate that sialidase secretion is an active process that is reduced at low temperatures and in the presence of sodium azide. The enzyme is continuously released until certain maximally active concentrations are attained in the BHI culture medium when the parasite density reaches 2-3 x 10(6) cells. When introduced into culture medium already containing such enzyme levels, freshly harvested parasites do not secrete additional sialidase. These findings suggest a self-regulating mechanism and a biological role for the secreted T. rangeli sialidase. The secreted enzyme was purified to homogeneity by fractionation with ammonium sulphate and affinity chromatography. Antibodies raised against the purified molecule recognized antigens of similar molecular weights (73 kDa) in western immunoblotting analyses of T. rangeli and T. cruzi whole cell lysates. No antigenic recognition was recorded against T. cruzi active sialidase/trans-sialidase polypeptides or Clostridium perfringens and Vibrio cholerae commercial sialidases. These observations may indicate the expression of different antigenic domains in T. rangeli, T. cruzi and bacterial sialidases.

Molecular cloning of the gene encoding the 83 kDa amastigote surface protein and its identification as a member of the Trypanosoma cruzi sialidase superfamily

Amastigote surface proteins of Trypanosoma cruzi are likely targets of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, however, few such molecules have been well studied. In this study, we have used modified RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) and SOE (gene splicing by overlap extension) polymerase chain reaction strategies to clone the gene for the previously described 83 kDa amastigote surface protein of T. cruzi. Of the several clones obtained, only one clone, clone 4, was found to encode the 20 amino acid sequence originally reported by Pan and McMahon-Pratt (J Immunol 1989;143:1001-1008). The identity of the cloned gene with the 83 kDa amastigote surface protein was further confirmed by the reactivity of polyclonal antisera against the purified 83 kDa protein with the gene product expressed in E. coli. Sequence analyses revealed that this amastigote surface protein (ASP-2) has two conserved aspartic acid box motifs and the highly conserved VTVxNVxLYNR motif characteristic of bacterial and viral sialidases and the type III module of fibronectin, respectively. ASP-2 thus joins ASP-1 as a member of the amastigote surface expressed family of sialidase-like molecules having strong homology with family 2 of the sialidase/trans-sialidase gene superfamily of T. cruzi.

Isolation and expression of an open reading frame encoding sialidase from Trypanosoma rangeli

Several protozoan parasites of human have been found to express enzymes capable of releasing terminal sialic acid residues from host glycans. These include enzymes similar in activity to bacterial and viral sialidases, as well as a novel type of enzyme, trans-sialidase, which can transfer sialic acid from one carbohydrate chain to another. Here we report the isolation of a gene and a gene fragment from the kinetoplastid Trypanosoma rangeli which encode products related in sequence to the trans-sialidase enzyme of T. cruzi. The gene fragment ORF is nearly identical to that of the complete gene, which encodes an enzymatically inactive protein. When the ORF of the gene fragment is fused to fragments from related genes, it encodes a product with sialidase activity. Both predicted T. rangeli protein products also have other potential structural features found in bacterial sialidases and in members of a previously described Trypanosoma trans-sialidase superfamily.

The major surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes are ligands of the human serum mannose-binding protein

Trypanosoma cruzi, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, chronically infects mammals and causes Chagas' disease in humans. T. cruzi evasion of the mammalian immune response and establishment of chronic infection are poorly understood. During T. cruzi infection, amastigotes and trypomastigotes disseminate in the mammalian host and invade multiple cell types. Parasite surface carbohydrates and mammalian lectins have been implicated in the invasion of mammalian cells. A recent study has demonstrated that the human mannose-binding protein and the macrophage mannose receptor, two mammalian C-type lectins, bind to T. cruzi (S. J. Kahn, M. Wleklinski, A. Aruffo, A. Farr, D. Coder, and M. Kahn, J. Exp. Med. 182:1243-1258,1995). In this report we identify the major surface glycoproteins, including the SA85-1 glycoproteins, as T. cruzi ligands of the mannose-binding protein. Further characterization of the interaction between the mannose-binding protein and T. cruzi demonstrates that (i) the SA85-1 glycoproteins are expressed by amastigotes and trypomastigotes but only amastigotes express the mannose-binding protein ligand, (ii) treatment of amastigotes with alpha-mannosidase inhibits the binding of mannose-binding protein, and (iii) amastigote binding of mannose-binding protein is stable despite the spontaneous shedding of some glycoproteins from its surface. Together, the data indicate that developmentally regulated glycosylation of surface glycoproteins controls the expression of ligands that affect the interactions between T. cruzi and mannose-binding protein. It has been established that the binding of mannose-binding protein to microorganisms facilitates their uptake into phagocytic cells. Preferential opsonization of amastigotes with mannose-binding proteins may account for their clearance from the circulation and may contribute to the parasite's ability to invade different cell types.

Trypanosoma cruzi amastigote adhesion to macrophages is facilitated by the mannose receptor

Trypanosoma cruzi is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. The mammalian stage of the parasite life cycle describes amastigotes as an intracellular form that replicates, and trypomastigotes as an extracellular form that disseminates and invades cells. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated that amastigotes circulate in the blood of infected mammals and can invade mammalian cells. In this report, a T. cruzi surface glycoprotein gene, SA85-1.1, was expressed as an immunoglobulin chimera, and this recombinant globulin was used to screen normal mouse tissues for adhesive interactions. This approach identified a subset of macrophages in the skin and peripheral lymph node that bind the T. cruzi surface glycoproteins through the mannose receptor. To further examine the T. cruzi mannose receptor carbohydrate ligands, the interaction between T. cruzi and the mannose-binding protein, a mammalian lectin with similar carbohydrate binding specificities as the mannose receptor, was examined. These studies demonstrated that the mannose-binding protein recognized amastigotes, but not trypomastigotes or epimastigotes, and suggested that amastigotes would also be recognized by the mannose receptor. Therefore, amastigote adhesion to macrophages was investigated, and these experiments demonstrated that the mannose receptor contributes to amastigote adhesion. The data identify the first mammalian lectins that bind to T. cruzi, and are involved in T. cruzi invasion of mammalian cells. The data suggest that amastigotes and trypomastigotes may have developed different mechanisms to adhere to and invade host cells. In addition, it has been established that IFN-gamma-activated macrophages express low levels of the mannose receptor and are trypanocidal; this suggests that the interaction between amastigotes and the mannose receptor enables amastigotes to increase their adherence with a population of macrophages that are nontrypanocidal and permissive for their intracellular replication.

Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase gene lacking C-terminal repeats and expressed in epimastigote forms

Infective trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi express an oligomeric trans-sialidase that contains a long stretch of 12-amino-acid repeats at the C terminus, while the insect epimastigote forms having a monomeric trans-sialidase without repeats. Here we show that messenger RNAs encoding trans-sialidases containing the repeats are not present in epimastigotes but are abundant in trypomastigotes. In contrast, mRNA species encoding the conserved N-terminal domain are detected in epimastigotes. A cDNA clone derived from epimastigote mRNA was isolated and characterized. It predicts a repeat-minus amino-acid sequence that has 84% identity to the conserved N-terminal domain of trypomastigote trans-sialidase, and contains some of the necessary amino acids for the catalytic activity, as shown by fusion experiments. Transcripts corresponding to this clone were detected in epimastigotes and in trypomastigotes by reverse-transcriptase and polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the lack of repeats is not due to RNA processing because the corresponding gene without repeats was amplified from the parasite DNA. These results suggest that a distinct set of genes encode the repeat-minus trans-sialidase, and only these trans-sialidase genes are expressed in epimastigote forms.