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Wątor E, Wilk P, Kochanowski P, Grudnik P. Structural characterization of the (deoxy)hypusination in Trichomonas vaginalis questions the bifunctionality of deoxyhypusine synthase. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38923395 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of trichomoniasis, is a prevalent anaerobic protozoan parasite responsible for the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection globally. While metronidazole and its derivatives are approved drugs for this infection, rising resistance necessitates the exploration of new antiparasitic therapies. Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) play crucial roles in cellular processes, and among them, hypusination, involving eukaryotic translation factor 5A (eIF5A), has profound implications. Despite extensive studies in various organisms, the role of hypusination in T. vaginalis and its potential impact on parasite biology and pathogenicity remain poorly understood. This study aims to unravel the structural basis of the hypusination pathway in T. vaginalis using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. The results reveal high structural homology between T. vaginalis and human orthologs, providing insights into the molecular architecture of eIF5A and deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) and their interaction. Contrary to previous suggestions of bifunctionality, our analyses indicate that the putative hydroxylation site in tvDHS is nonfunctional, and biochemical assays demonstrate exclusive deoxyhypusination capability. These findings challenge the notion of tvDHS functioning as both deoxyhypusine synthase and hydroxylase. The study enhances understanding of the hypusination pathway in T. vaginalis, shedding light on its functional relevance and potential as a drug target, and contributing to the development of novel therapeutic strategies against trichomoniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Wątor
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Wilk
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Paweł Kochanowski
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Przemysław Grudnik
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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Rigo GV, Joaquim AR, Macedo AJ, de Andrade SF, Tasca T. Iron chelation and inhibition of metallopeptidases mediate anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity by a novel 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative. Bioorg Chem 2022; 125:105912. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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3
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Antifungal activity of aminoalcohols and diamines against dermatophytes and yeast. Med Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-020-02636-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Friedman M, Tam CC, Cheng LW, Land KM. Anti-trichomonad activities of different compounds from foods, marine products, and medicinal plants: a review. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020; 20:271. [PMID: 32907567 PMCID: PMC7479404 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03061-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human trichomoniasis, caused by the pathogenic parasitic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease that contributes to reproductive morbidity in affected women and possibly to prostate cancer in men. Tritrichomonas foetus strains cause the disease trichomoniasis in farm animals (cattle, bulls, pigs) and diarrhea in domestic animals (cats and dogs). Because some T. vaginalis strains have become resistant to the widely used drug metronidazole, there is a need to develop alternative treatments, based on safe natural products that have the potential to replace and/or enhance the activity of lower doses of metronidazole. To help meet this need, this overview collates and interprets worldwide reported studies on the efficacy of structurally different classes of food, marine, and medicinal plant extracts and some of their bioactive pure compounds against T. vaginalis and T. foetus in vitro and in infected mice and women. Active food extracts include potato peels and their glycoalkaloids α-chaconine and α-solanine, caffeic and chlorogenic acids, and quercetin; the tomato glycoalkaloid α-tomatine; theaflavin-rich black tea extracts and bioactive theaflavins; plant essential oils and their compounds (+)-α-bisabolol and eugenol; the grape skin compound resveratrol; the kidney bean lectin, marine extracts from algae, seaweeds, and fungi and compounds that are derived from fungi; medicinal extracts and about 30 isolated pure compounds. Also covered are the inactivation of drug-resistant T. vaginalis and T. foetus strains by sensitized light; anti-trichomonad effects in mice and women; beneficial effects of probiotics in women; and mechanisms that govern cell death. The summarized findings will hopefully stimulate additional research, including molecular-mechanism-guided inactivations and human clinical studies, that will help ameliorate adverse effects of pathogenic protozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mendel Friedman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Healthy Processed Foods Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Albany, CA, 94710, USA.
| | - Christina C Tam
- United States Department of Agriculture, Foodborne Toxins Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Albany, California, 94710, USA
| | - Luisa W Cheng
- United States Department of Agriculture, Foodborne Toxins Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Albany, California, 94710, USA
| | - Kirkwood M Land
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, USA
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Rigo GV, Tasca T. Vaginitis: Review on Drug Resistance. Curr Drug Targets 2020; 21:1672-1686. [PMID: 32753007 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666200804112340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Female genital tract infections have a high incidence among different age groups and represent an important impact on public health. Among them, vaginitis refers to inflammation of the vulva and/or vagina due to the presence of pathogens that cause trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Several discomforts are associated with these infections, as well as pregnancy complications and the facilitation of HIV transmission and acquisition. The increasing resistance of microorganisms to drugs used in therapy is remarkable, since women report the recurrence of these infections and associated comorbidities. Different resistant mechanisms already described for the drugs used in the therapy against Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida spp., and Gardnerella vaginalis, as well as aspects related to pathogenesis and treatment, are discussed in this review. This study aims to contribute to drug design, avoiding therapy ineffectiveness due to drug resistance. Effective alternative therapies to treat vaginitis will reduce the recurrence of infections and, consequently, the high costs generated in the health system, improving women's well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziela Vargas Rigo
- Research Group on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiana Tasca
- Research Group on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Carapina da Silva C, Pacheco BS, das Neves RN, Dié Alves MS, Sena-Lopes Â, Moura S, Borsuk S, de Pereira CMP. Antiparasitic activity of synthetic curcumin monocarbonyl analogues against Trichomonas vaginalis. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 111:367-377. [PMID: 30594049 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis and it is considered to be the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection in the world. Since the 1960s, nitroimidazoles such as metronidazole are the drugs of choice for the treatment of trichomoniasis, but many adverse effects and allergic reactions may result from their use. Reports of metronidazole-resistant infections also highlight the importance for the search of new anti-T. vaginalis agents. Considering this, herein we report the anti-T. vaginalis evaluation of 21 synthetic monocarbonyl analogues of curcumin, which itself has been reported to possess antiparasitic potential. From the in vitro analysis of the synthetic molecules, untreated trophozoites, and metronidazole at 100 μM, it was observed that three curcumin analogues (3a, 3e, and 5e) exhibited anti-T. vaginalis activity comparable to metronidazole (no significant statistical difference). Optimal antiparasitic concentrations were determined to be 80 μM and 90 μM for propanone derivatives 3a and 3e, respectively, and 200 μM for cyclohexanone derivative 5e. Kinetic growth curves showed that, after 24 h, the trophozoites were completely inhibited. At the tested concentrations, natural curcumin did not significantly inhibit the growth of trophozoites, therefore demonstrating that the designed synthetic molecules not only have better chemical stability, but also higher anti-T. vaginalis potential. Cytotoxicity analysis, performed on VERO cells, demonstrated low, moderate and high cytotoxic effects for analogues 3e, 5e and 3a, respectively. This study suggests that these analogues possess chemical features of interest to be further explored as alternatives for the treatment of trichomoniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Carapina da Silva
- Laboratory of Lipidomics and Bioorganic, Bioforensics Research Group, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil.
| | - Bruna Silveira Pacheco
- Laboratory of Lipidomics and Bioorganic, Bioforensics Research Group, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
| | | | - Mirna Samara Dié Alves
- Laboratory of Infecto-parasitic Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
| | - Ângela Sena-Lopes
- Laboratory of Infecto-parasitic Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
| | - Sidnei Moura
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural and Synthetic Products, Biotechnology Institute, University of Caxias do Sul, RS, 95020260, Brazil
| | - Sibele Borsuk
- Laboratory of Infecto-parasitic Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
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