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de Souza Teles ER, de Araujo Portes J, de Souza W. New morphological observations on the initial events of Toxoplasma gondii entry into host cells. Vet Parasitol 2023; 322:110006. [PMID: 37633244 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan of worldwide distribution. It is effective in the infection of various homoeothermic animals of economic importance. The process of T. gondii invasion of host cells occurs in less than 20 s by the active mechanism of penetration. First, a mobile junction is formed due to the association between the apical end of the parasite and the host cell surface. Then, the secretion of invasive and docking proteins allows the formation of the mobile junction before the complete internalization of the parasite. Here, using high-resolution microscopy, it was described new morphological observations of the early events of host cell invasion by tachyzoites of T. gondii. Attempts were made to synchronize the interaction process using low temperatures and treatment of the host cells with cytochalasin D, a drug that interferes with the actin dynamics. Images were obtained showing that the parasite and the host cells seem to release small vesicles with diameters varying from 25 to 100 nm. Furthermore, tunneling nanotubes emerge from the host cell surface and interact with the parasite even at long distance. These observations add new details of adhesion and entry events, such as surface projections of the host cell plasma membrane, pseudopods, and nanotubes radiating from the host cell toward the parasite. In addition, scanning microscopy revealed intense vesiculation, with a morphological characteristic of extracellular microvesicles, during the entry of the tachyzoite into the host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everson Reili de Souza Teles
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana de Araujo Portes
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem - INBEB, and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Centro de Estudos Biomédicos-CMABio, Escola Superior de Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
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2
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Kim H, Hong SH, Jeong HE, Han S, Ahn J, Kim JA, Yang JH, Oh HJ, Chung S, Lee SE. Microfluidic model for in vitro acute Toxoplasma gondii infection and transendothelial migration. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11449. [PMID: 35794197 PMCID: PMC9259589 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15305-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) causes one of the most common human zoonotic diseases and infects approximately one-third of the global population. T. gondii infects nearly every cell type and causes severe symptoms in susceptible populations. In previous laboratory animal studies, T. gondii movement and transmission were not analyzed in real time. In a three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic assay, we successfully supported the complex lytic cycle of T. gondii in situ by generating a stable microvasculature. The physiology of the T. gondii-infected microvasculature was monitored in order to investigate the growth, paracellular and transcellular migration, and transmission of T. gondii, as well as the efficacy of T. gondii drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunho Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sung-Hee Hong
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Eun Jeong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jinchul Ahn
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-A Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Hyun Jeong Oh
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang-Eun Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Portes J, Barrias E, Travassos R, Attias M, de Souza W. Toxoplasma gondii Mechanisms of Entry Into Host Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:294. [PMID: 32714877 PMCID: PMC7340009 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. Toxoplasma can invade and multiply inside any nucleated cell of a wide range of homeothermic hosts. The canonical process of internalization involves several steps: an initial recognition of the host cell surface and a sequential secretion of proteins from micronemes followed by rhoptries that assemble a macromolecular complex constituting a specialized and transient moving junction. The parasite is then internalized via an endocytic process with the establishment of a parasitophorous vacuole (PV), that does not fuse with lysosomes, where the parasites survive and multiply. This process of host cell invasion is usually referred to active penetration. Using different cell types and inhibitors of distinct endocytic pathways, we show that treatment of host cells with compounds that interfere with clathrin-mediated endocytosis (hypertonic sucrose medium, chlorpromazine hydrochloride, and pitstop 2 inhibited the internalization of tachyzoites). In addition, treatments that interfere with macropinocytosis, such as incubation with amiloride or IPA-3, increased parasite attachment to the host cell surface but significantly blocked parasite internalization. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that markers of macropinocytosis, such as the Rab5 effector rabankyrin 5 and Pak1, are associated with parasite-containing cytoplasmic vacuoles. These results indicate that entrance of T. gondii into mammalian cells can take place both by the well-characterized interaction of parasite and host cell endocytic machinery and other processes, such as the clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and macropinocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Portes
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Emile Barrias
- Laboratório de Metrologia Aplicada à Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia- Inmetro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renata Travassos
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Márcia Attias
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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4
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The dense granule protein 8 (GRA8) is a component of the sub-pellicular cytoskeleton in Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1899-1918. [PMID: 30949853 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06298-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
After host cell invasion, Toxoplasma secretes a variety of dense granule proteins (GRA proteins) from its secretory dense granules, which are involved in the biogenesis of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). TgGRA8I is predicted to contain proline-rich domains, which are structural features of some cytoskeleton-related proteins. In agreement with this observation, previous proteomic analyses revealed the presence of TgGRA8I in the Toxoplasma sub-pellicular cytoskeleton. In the present study, we show (1) by docking analyses that TgGRA8I may interact with both Toxoplasma β-tubulin and actin; (2) by immunoelectron microscopy, proteomic, biochemical, and cellular approaches that TgGRA8I associates with sub-pellicular microtubules and actin at the parasite sub-pellicular cytoskeleton; (3) that type I parasites (RH strain) lacking the GRA8 gene (RHΔku80Δgra8) exhibit loss of conoid extrusion, diminished cell infection, and egress capabilities, and that these motility impairments were likely due to important alterations in their sub-pellicular cytoskeleton, in particular their sub-pellicular microtubules and meshwork. Parasites lacking the GRA4 gene (RHΔku80Δgra4) did not show modifications in the organization of the sub-pellicular cytoskeleton. Collectively, these results demonstrated that TgGRA8I is a dense granule protein that, besides its role in the formation of the PV, contributes to the organization of the parasite sub-pellicular cytoskeleton and motility. This is the first proline-rich protein described in the Toxoplasma cytoskeleton, which is a key organelle for both the parasite motility and the invasion process. Knowledge about the function of cytoskeleton components in Toxoplasma is fundamental to understand the motility process and the host cell invasion mechanism. Refining this knowledge should lead to the design of novel pharmacological strategies for the treatment against toxoplasmosis.
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5
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He C, Kong L, Puthiyakunnon S, Wei HX, Zhou LJ, Peng HJ. iTRAQ-based phosphoproteomic analysis reveals host cell's specific responses to Toxoplasma gondii at the phases of invasion and prior to egress. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2018; 1867:202-212. [PMID: 30576742 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation plays a key role in host cell-T. gondii interaction. However, the phosphoproteome data of host cell at various phases of T. gondii infection has not been thoroughly described. In this study, we assessed the host phosphoproteome data with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) method during the phases of T. gondii invasion (30 min post infection, PI) and prior to egress (28 h PI). Our iTRAQ analysis revealed a total of 665 phosphoproteins, among which the significantly regulated phosphoproteins in different between-group comparisons were further analyzed. Functional analysis of these significantly regulated phosphoproteins suggested that T. gondii modulated host cell processes through phosphorylation including cell cycle regulation, inducing apoptosis, blocking the synthesis of some inflammatory factors, mediating metabolism to support its proliferation at the infection phase prior to egress, and utilizing membrane and energy from host cell, reorganizing cytoskeleton to favor its invasion and PV formation at the phase of invasion. The phosphorylation level of Smad2, CTNNA1, and HSPB1 identified with western blot revealed a consistent trend of change with iTRAQ result. These newly identified and significantly regulated phosphoproteins from our phosphoproteome data may provide new clues to unravel the host cell's complex reaction against T. gondii infection and the interaction between the host cell and T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng He
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ling Kong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Santhosh Puthiyakunnon
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hai-Xia Wei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hong-Juan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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6
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Caldas LA, de Souza W. A Window to Toxoplasma gondii Egress. Pathogens 2018; 7:pathogens7030069. [PMID: 30110938 PMCID: PMC6161258 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens7030069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Toxoplasma gondii cellular cycle has been widely studied in many lifecycle stages; however, the egress event still is poorly understood even though different types of molecules were shown to be involved. Assuming that there is no purpose or intentionality in biological phenomena, there is no such question as “Why does the parasite leaves the host cell”, but “Under what conditions and how?”. In this review we aimed to summarize current knowledge concerning T. gondii egress physiology (signalling pathways), structures, and route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucio Ayres Caldas
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
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7
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Fischer K, Roberts M, Roscoe S, Avci Y, Ananvoranich S. Toxoplasma gondii infection induces the formation of host's nuclear granules containing poly(A)-binding proteins. Can J Microbiol 2018; 64:551-558. [PMID: 29658303 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2017-0755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
To study the mechanism by which human host cells respond to an infection of Toxoplasma gondii, we monitored the level of poly(A)-binding protein (PABP), an indicator of translation. Here, we report an observation of the relocalization of PABPs in human host cells upon T. gondii infection. Notably, the aggregates of PABPs formed upon infection are mainly found in the nucleus, which is a different response from that found after exposure to heat shock. Pyrimethamine treatment of the infected monolayers inhibits the multiplicity of the parasite and reverses the relocalization of PABP aggregates. This active interaction between the infected mammalian host cells and T. gondii appears to be different from that caused by viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlee Fischer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Mikayla Roberts
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Scott Roscoe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Yasin Avci
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Sirinart Ananvoranich
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
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8
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Caldas LA, Attias M, de Souza W. A structural analysis of the natural egress of Toxoplasma gondii. Microbes Infect 2017; 20:57-62. [PMID: 28951315 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have analysed the process of Toxoplasma gondii egress with the aid of inducers, such as calcium ionophores. Although calcium transients have been successful in triggering T. gondii egress, the structural panorama of "natural" and artificial events should match. The present study approaches the natural egress of this parasite using super-resolution and electron microscopy and reveals lytic and non-lytic events of individual egress; this corroborates the use of calcium ionophore as a reliable tool to trigger parasite egress. Altogether, our data suggest that different signalling routes can converge to similar structural aspects in natural and induced egress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lúcio Ayres Caldas
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Marcia Attias
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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He C, Kong L, Zhou L, Xia J, Wei H, Liu M, Peng H. Host Cell Vimentin Restrains Toxoplasma gondii Invasion and Phosphorylation of Vimentin is Partially Regulated by Interaction with TgROP18. Int J Biol Sci 2017; 13:1126-1137. [PMID: 29104504 PMCID: PMC5666328 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.21247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, manipulates the cytoskeleton of its host cells to facilitate infection. A significant rearrangement of host cell vimentin around Toxoplasma parasitophorous vacuoles is observed during the course of infection. ROP18 (TgROP18) is a serine-threonine kinase secreted by T. gondii rhoptry and a major virulence factor; however, the mechanisms by which this kinase modulates host factors remain poorly understood. Different and dynamic patterns of vimentin solubility, phosphorylation, and expression levels were observed in host cells infected with T. gondii strain RH and RH Δrop18 strains, suggesting that TgROP18 contributes to the regulation of these dynamic patterns. Additionally, host cell vimentin was demonstrated to interact with and be phosphorylated by TgROP18. A significant increase in T. gondii infection rate was observed in vimentin knockout human brain microvessel endothelial cells (HBMEC), while vimentin knockout or knock down in host cells had no impact on parasite proliferation and egress. These results indicate that host cell vimentin can inhibit T. gondii invasion. Interestingly, western blotting of different mouse tissues indicated that the lowest vimentin expression level was present in the brain, which may explain the mechanism underlying the nervous system tropism of T. gondii, and the phenomenon of huge cyst burdens developing in the mouse brain during chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng He
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Ling Kong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Lijuan Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Haixia Wei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
| | - Hongjuan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510515, China
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10
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John Von Freyend S, Kwok-Schuelein T, Netter HJ, Haqshenas G, Semblat JP, Doerig C. Subverting Host Cell P21-Activated Kinase: A Case of Convergent Evolution across Pathogens. Pathogens 2017; 6:pathogens6020017. [PMID: 28430160 PMCID: PMC5488651 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6020017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens have evolved a wide range of strategies to not only escape from the immune systems of their hosts, but also to directly exploit a variety of host factors to facilitate the infection process. One such strategy is to subvert host cell signalling pathways to the advantage of the pathogen. Recent research has highlighted that the human serine/threonine kinase PAK, or p21-activated kinase, is a central component of host-pathogen interactions in many infection systems involving viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic pathogens. PAK paralogues are found in most mammalian tissues, where they play vital roles in a wide range of functions. The role of PAKs in cell proliferation and survival, and their involvement in a number of cancers, is of great interest in the context of drug discovery. In this review we discuss the latest insights into the surprisingly central role human PAK1 plays for the infection by such different infectious disease agents as viruses, bacteria, and parasitic protists. It is our intention to open serious discussion on the applicability of PAK inhibitors for the treatment, not only of neoplastic diseases, which is currently the primary objective of drug discovery research targeting these enzymes, but also of a wide range of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona John Von Freyend
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Terry Kwok-Schuelein
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
- Cancer Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Hans J Netter
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne Health, The Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
| | - Gholamreza Haqshenas
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | | | - Christian Doerig
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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11
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Liu Q, Li FC, Zhou CX, Zhu XQ. Research advances in interactions related to Toxoplasma gondii microneme proteins. Exp Parasitol 2017; 176:89-98. [PMID: 28286325 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii microneme proteins (TgMICs), secreted by micronemes upon contact with host cells, are reported to play important roles in multiple stages of the T. gondii life cycle, including parasite motility, invasion, intracellular survival, and egress from host cells. Meanwhile, during these processes, TgMICs participate in many protein-protein and protein-carbohydrate interactions, such as undergoing proteolytic maturation, binding to aldolase, engaging the host cell receptors and forming the moving junction (MJ), relying on different types of ectodomains, transmembrane (TM) domains and cytoplasmic domains (CDs). In this review, we summarize the research advances in protein-protein and protein-carbohydrate interactions related to TgMICs, and their intimate associations with corresponding biological processes during T. gondii infection, which will contribute to an improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of T. gondii infection, and provide a basis for developing effective control strategies against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, PR China.
| | - Fa-Cai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China.
| | - Chun-Xue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, PR China.
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12
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Caldas LA, Soares LL, Henrique Seabra S, Attias M, de Souza W. Monitoring of dynamin during the Toxoplasma gondii cell cycle. Pathog Dis 2016; 74:ftw108. [PMID: 27811048 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftw108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii actively invades virtually all warm-blooded nucleated cells. This process results in a non-fusogenic vacuole, inside which the parasites replicate continuously until egress signaling is triggered. In this work, we investigated the role of the large GTPase dynamin in the interaction of T. gondii with the host cell by using laser and electron microscopy during three key stages: invasion, development and egress. The detection of dynamin during invasion indicates the occurrence of endocytosis, while T. gondii egress appeared to be independent of dynamin participation. However, the presence of dynamin during T. gondii development suggests that this molecule plays undescribed roles in the tachyzoite's cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucio Ayres Caldas
- Instituto de Biofí-sica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Leandro Lemgruber Soares
- Instituto Nacional de Metrologia Normalizacao e Qualidade Industrial, Duque de Caxias, RJ 25250-020, Brazil.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Sergio Henrique Seabra
- Microbiologia, UEZO, Av. Manuel Caldeira de Alvarenga, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 23070-200, Brazil
| | - Marcia Attias
- Instituto de Biofí-sica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Instituto de Biofí-sica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
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Yang Z, Ahn HJ, Park YH, Nam HW. Afatinib Reduces STAT6 Signaling of Host ARPE-19 Cells Infected with Toxoplasma gondii. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2016; 54:31-8. [PMID: 26951976 PMCID: PMC4792312 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Specific gene expressions of host cells by spontaneous STAT6 phosphorylation are major strategy for the survival of intracellular Toxoplasma gondii against parasiticidal events through STAT1 phosphorylation by infection provoked IFN-γ. We determined the effects of small molecules of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on the growth of T. gondii and on the relationship with STAT1 and STAT6 phosphorylation in ARPE-19 cells. We counted the number of T. gondii RH tachyzoites per parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) after treatment with TKIs at 12-hr intervals for 72 hr. The change of STAT6 phosphorylation was assessed via western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Among the tested TKIs, Afatinib (pan ErbB/EGFR inhibitor, 5 µM) inhibited 98.0% of the growth of T. gondii, which was comparable to pyrimethamine (5 µM) at 96.9% and followed by Erlotinib (ErbB1/EGFR inhibitor, 20 µM) at 33.8% and Sunitinib (PDGFR or c-Kit inhibitor, 10 µM) at 21.3%. In the early stage of the infection (2, 4, and 8 hr after T. gondii challenge), Afatinib inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT6 in western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Both JAK1 and JAK3, the upper hierarchical kinases of cytokine signaling, were strongly phosphorylated at 2 hr and then disappeared entirely after 4 hr. Some TKIs, especially the EGFR inhibitors, might play an important role in the inhibition of intracellular replication of T. gondii through the inhibition of the direct phosphorylation of STAT6 by T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoshou Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Ahn
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hoon Park
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Woo Nam
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
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14
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Matos RBD, Braga-de-Souza S, Pitanga BPS, Silva VDAD, Jesus EEVD, Pinheiro AM, Costa MDFD, El-Bacha RDS, Ribeiro CSDO, Costa SL. Flavonoids modulate the proliferation of Neospora caninum in glial cell primary cultures. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2014; 52:613-9. [PMID: 25548412 PMCID: PMC4277023 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2014.52.6.613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa; Sarcocystidae) is a protozoan that causes abortion in cattle, horses, sheep, and dogs as well as neurological and dermatological diseases in dogs. In the central nervous system of dogs infected with N. caninum, cysts were detected that exhibited gliosis and meningitis. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that exhibit antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of flavonoids in a well-established in vitro model of N. caninum infection in glial cell cultures. Glial cells were treated individually with 10 different flavonoids, and a subset of cultures was also infected with the NC-1 strain of N. caninum. All of the flavonoids tested induced an increase in the metabolism of glial cells and many of them increased nitrite levels in cultures infected with NC-1 compared to controls and uninfected cultures. Among the flavonoids tested, 3',4'-dihydroxyflavone, 3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone (luteolin), and 3,3',4',5,6-pentahydroxyflavone (quercetin), also inhibited parasitophorous vacuole formation. Taken together, our findings show that flavonoids modulate glial cell responses, increase NO secretion, and interfere with N. caninum infection and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosan Barbosa de Matos
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Suzana Braga-de-Souza
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Bruno Pena Seara Pitanga
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Victor Diógenes Amaral da Silva
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Erica Etelvina Viana de Jesus
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Morales Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias Ambientais e Biológicas, Campus da Universidade, CEP 44380-000, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Maria de Fátima Dias Costa
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Ramon dos Santos El-Bacha
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Cátia Suse de Oliveira Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Silvia Lima Costa
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Vale do Canela, CEP 41100-100, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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