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Peixoto JF, Gonçalves-Oliveira LF, Souza-Silva F, de Castro Côrtes LM, Finkelstein LC, Dias-Lopes G, Patricio BFDC, Lima CGDS, Rocha HVA, da Silva FDC, Ferreira VF, Pereira BAS, Alves CR. Efficacy of the treatment using a microemulsion loaded with epoxy-α-lapachone in combination with meglumine antimoniate against murine infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 24:100525. [PMID: 38359731 PMCID: PMC10875245 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100525] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania spp., affecting millions of people around the world. For decades, its treatment has been based on pentavalent antimonials, which notoriously cause toxic side effects in patients. In this study, epoxy-α-lapachone incorporated into an oil-in-water-type microemulsion (ELAP-ME) and meglumine antimoniate (MA) were assayed in monotherapy and in combination (ELAP-ME/MA) in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. In general, there was a reduction in paw lesion size (up to 37% reduction) and decreases of parasite loads in the footpad (∼40%) and lymph nodes (∼31%) of animals treated with ELAP-ME/MA, when compared to the non-treated control groups. Analyses of serum biochemical parameters revealed that the ELAP-ME/MA showed lower renal and hepatic toxicity when compared to MA 2-doses/week monotherapy. These findings indicate that the ELAP-ME/MA combination may be a promising approach for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Figueiredo Peixoto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas - Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luiz Filipe Gonçalves-Oliveira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas - Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Avenida Brasil, 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Iguaçu - Avenida Abílio Augusto Távora 2134, CEP 26260-045, Dom Rodrigo, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luzia Monteiro de Castro Côrtes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas - Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Léa Cysne Finkelstein
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia - Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Geovane Dias-Lopes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas - Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Ferreira de Carvalho Patricio
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Farmanguinhos, Laboratório de Micro e Nanotecnologia - Avenida Brasil 4036, CEP 21040361, Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto Biomédico, Laboratório de Farmacologia - Rua Frei Caneca 94, CEP 20211040, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carolina Guimarães de Souza Lima
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica - Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, CEP 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Helvécio Vinícius Antunes Rocha
- Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto Biomédico, Laboratório de Farmacologia - Rua Frei Caneca 94, CEP 20211040, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernando de Carvalho da Silva
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica - Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, CEP 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vitor Francisco Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica - Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, CEP 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Tecnologia Farmacêutica - Rua Dr. Mario Vianna 523, Santa Rosa, CEP 24241-002, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Acácio Santini Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas - Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia - Avenida Marquês do Paraná, 303, CEP 24033-900, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas - Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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2
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Qiam H, Lowe E, Fung AH, Sankaran P. Recurrent leishmaniasis infection isolated in the pleural fluid. BMJ Case Rep 2024; 17:e256632. [PMID: 38479831 PMCID: PMC10941148 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-256632] [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] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
We present a rare case of recurrent leishmaniasis infection in a female in her 80s who re-presented with a pleural effusion. The patient was initially investigated as an outpatient for cytopenia and underwent a bone marrow biopsy which subsequently diagnosed visceral leishmaniasis. Following full treatment, and apparent recovery, she re-presented with pleural effusion, hypoalbuminaemia and cytopenia. Leishmania was eventually isolated in a pleural fluid sample obtained on therapeutic drainage, and she was treated for a recurrence at a tertiary infectious disease unit. This interesting and challenging case demonstrates the importance of suspecting leishmaniasis recurrence in previously treated cases and the diagnostic benefit of pleural fluid analysis in the context of suspected leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hina Qiam
- Respiratory Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
| | - Emily Lowe
- Respiratory Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
| | - Adriel Heilong Fung
- Respiratory Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK
| | - Prasanna Sankaran
- Respiratory Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia Norwich Medical School, Norwich, UK
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3
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Fischer Weinberger R, Bachmaier S, Ober V, Githure GB, Dandugudumula R, Phan IQ, Almoznino M, Polatoglou E, Tsigankov P, Nitzan Koren R, Myler PJ, Boshart M, Zilberstein D. A divergent protein kinase A regulatory subunit essential for morphogenesis of the human pathogen Leishmania. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012073. [PMID: 38551993 PMCID: PMC11006142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania cycle between the phagolysosome of mammalian macrophages, where they reside as rounded intracellular amastigotes, and the midgut of female sand flies, which they colonize as elongated extracellular promastigotes. Previous studies indicated that protein kinase A (PKA) plays an important role in the initial steps of promastigote differentiation into amastigotes. Here, we describe a novel regulatory subunit of PKA (which we have named PKAR3) that is unique to Leishmania and most (but not all) other Kinetoplastidae. PKAR3 is localized to subpellicular microtubules (SPMT) in the cell cortex, where it recruits a specific catalytic subunit (PKAC3). Promastigotes of pkar3 or pkac3 null mutants lose their elongated shape and become rounded but remain flagellated. Truncation of an N-terminal formin homology (FH)-like domain of PKAR3 results in its detachment from the SPMT, also leading to rounded promastigotes. Thus, the tethering of PKAC3 via PKAR3 at the cell cortex is essential for maintenance of the elongated shape of promastigotes. This role of PKAR3 is reminiscent of PKARIβ and PKARIIβ binding to microtubules of mammalian neurons, which is essential for the elongation of dendrites and axons, respectively. Interestingly, PKAR3 binds nucleoside analogs, but not cAMP, with a high affinity similar to the PKAR1 isoform of Trypanosoma. We propose that these early-diverged protists have re-purposed PKA for a novel signaling pathway that spatiotemporally controls microtubule remodeling and cell shape.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabine Bachmaier
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Veronica Ober
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - George B. Githure
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ramu Dandugudumula
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Isabelle Q. Phan
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Michal Almoznino
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eleni Polatoglou
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Polina Tsigankov
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Roni Nitzan Koren
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Biomedical Informatics & Medical Education, and Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Michael Boshart
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dan Zilberstein
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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4
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Protozoan agents and nematode agents (5th section). Transfusion 2024; 64 Suppl 1:S271-S287. [PMID: 38394043 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
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Sangwan R, Beniwal S, Gaur S, Sharma P, Mittal M, Sharma P, Sharma J. Syntheses and characterization of novel antimony (III) and bismuth (III) derivatives containing β-enamino ester along with antimicrobial evaluation, DFT calculation, and cytotoxic study. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23548. [PMID: 37867459 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23548] [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: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Four novel antimony (III) and bismuth(III) complexes of the kind Cl-Sb-O-C(OR)-CH(CH3 )C-NH-(CH2 )2 -NH-C(CH3 )CH:C(OR)-O [where R = -CH3 , M = Sb (1a); R = -C2 H5 , M = Sb (1b); R = -CH3, M = Bi (1c); R = -C2 H5 , M = Bi (1d)] were successfully prepared by reacting antimony(III)chloride and bismuth(III)chloride with sodium salt of β-enamino esters in 1:1 stoichiometry, which were further structurally characterized by physicochemical and IR, 1 H, 13 C NMR spectral and mass spectrometry. Structural analysis revealed that all four derivatives of both antimony and bismuth display octahedarl geometry which has been optimized through computational studies. These derivatives along with their parent ligands were subsequently assayed in vitro for antibacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and antifungal (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) activities. Synthesized complexes were more efficacious in terms of biological activities as compared to parent ligands Further synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against lung cancer cell line A549 using MTT method. IC50 value for all four complexes was determined and all of them are found active. Computational studies of the representative complexes have been done using B3LYP/631-G* basis sets to provide optimized geometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reena Sangwan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rajastha, Jaipur, India
| | - Savita Beniwal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rajastha, Jaipur, India
| | - Seema Gaur
- Department of Computer Science, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jaipur Campus, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Phulwanti Sharma
- Division of Non-Communicable Disease, Translation Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Megha Mittal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rajastha, Jaipur, India
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rajastha, Jaipur, India
| | - Jyoti Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rajastha, Jaipur, India
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Edirisinghe NM, Manamperi NH, Wanasinghe VS, Karunaweera ND. Unfolded protein response pathway in leishmaniasis: A review. Parasite Immunol 2023; 45:e13009. [PMID: 37571855 PMCID: PMC10660540 DOI: 10.1111/pim.13009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Alteration in the physiological state of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to the specific response known as unfolded protein response (UPR) or ER stress response. The UPR is driven by three sensor proteins, namely: Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1, Protein Kinase RNA-like ER kinase and Activating Transcription Factor 6 to restore ER homeostasis. Pathogenic infection can initiate UPR activation; some pathogens can subvert the UPR to promote their survival and replication. Many intracellular pathogens, including Leishmania, can interact and hijack ER for their survival and replication, triggering ER stress and subsequently ER stress response. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the ER stress response in infections with the Leishmania species.
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Talebi-Talghian T, Ghogomu N. Uvular Lesion in a 62-Year-Old Man. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 149:940-941. [PMID: 37589979 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2023.2223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
An otherwise healthy man in his early 60s presented with a sore throat and skin lesions on his neck. What is your diagnosis?
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Alotaibi H, Aldossari A, Alnasser S. Impetiginous Cutaneous Leishmaniasis after COVID-19 Infection in a Patient with Poor Cardiac Profile: A Case Report and Literature Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:443. [PMID: 37755904 PMCID: PMC10536164 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8090443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence has been rising in the past couple of decades. Standard therapy often includes antileishmanial drugs; however, due to their low safety and toxicity threshold, alternative treatments are being investigated. The association between COVID-19 and cutaneous leishmaniasis remains unclear and exploring this connection may offer crucial insights into the pathophysiology of and treatment strategies for infected patients. In this article, we describe a case of a male patient with a history of cardiac and other comorbidities who presented with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the form of impetigo-like skin lesions after being infected with COVID-19. Due to the patient's poor cardiac profile, sodium stibogluconate was not used and an alternative therapeutic approach was employed. The patient was treated with oral terbinafine, cryotherapy on specific lesions, and a course of cephalexin. Following the course of treatment and subsequent follow-up, the patient exhibited complete resolution and healing of the lesions with scarring, and no active lesions or recurrence were observed. This case highlights the potential for alternative treatment strategies for cutaneous leishmaniasis in patients with comorbidities and emphasizes the importance of further research to better understand the link between COVID-19 and cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend Alotaibi
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11472, Saudi Arabia;
| | | | - Sultan Alnasser
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11472, Saudi Arabia;
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Colomba C, Boncori G, Albano C, Garbo V, Bagarello S, Condemi A, Giordano S, Cascio A. Mucosal Relapse of Visceral Leishmaniasis in a Child with SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Pathogens 2023; 12:1127. [PMID: 37764934 PMCID: PMC10536868 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania and is transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. In the Mediterranean region, visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania. infantum, and it is usually responsible for symptoms such as fever, pancytopenia and enlargement of the liver and spleen. Relapse is rare in immunocompetent patients as much as the mucous involvement. We present a rare case of mucosal relapse of visceral leishmaniasis in a child with SARS-CoV-2 infection and perform an extensive review of the literature about leishmaniasis relapses in children. Atypical mucosal involvement during Leishmaniasis relapse is an eventuality in pediatric patients. Clinical follow-up and periodic PCR tests must be considered essential for the early recognition and treatment of an eventual relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Colomba
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (C.C.); (G.B.); (V.G.); (S.B.); (A.C.); (A.C.)
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, “G. Di Cristina” Hospital, ARNAS Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli, 90100 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Boncori
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (C.C.); (G.B.); (V.G.); (S.B.); (A.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Chiara Albano
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (C.C.); (G.B.); (V.G.); (S.B.); (A.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Valeria Garbo
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (C.C.); (G.B.); (V.G.); (S.B.); (A.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Sara Bagarello
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (C.C.); (G.B.); (V.G.); (S.B.); (A.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Anna Condemi
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (C.C.); (G.B.); (V.G.); (S.B.); (A.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Salvatore Giordano
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, “G. Di Cristina” Hospital, ARNAS Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli, 90100 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Antonio Cascio
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (C.C.); (G.B.); (V.G.); (S.B.); (A.C.); (A.C.)
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, AOU Policlinico “P. Giaccone”, 90100 Palermo, Italy
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Usman M, Natala AJ, Jatau ID, Ogo NI, Jeelani G, Goto Y, Nozaki T, McKerrow JH, Balogun EO. Molecular identification of phlebotomine sand flies and the harbored Leishmania spp. in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1219629. [PMID: 37719668 PMCID: PMC10500309 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1219629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Female sand flies are hematophagous, feeding on animals and in the process serve as vectors for Leishmania, the parasites that cause leishmaniasis in humans. Leishmaniasis are a group of parasitic neglected tropical diseases in 98 countries including Nigeria and kills ~60,000 people/year. In Nigeria, Sokoto State is endemic to leishmaniasis but there is a knowledge gap on the identity of the prevalent sand flies and the Leishmania species they transmit. Hence, this cross-sectional study was designed to take inventory of the species of sand flies in Sokoto using genetic methods. Methods 1,260 (310 females) sand flies were collected from three Local Government Areas (L.G.A) of Sokoto State- Wamakko, Sokoto South and Kware. Genomic DNA was extracted from each fly and DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on the DNA samples using primers targeting the arthropods mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (mt-coI) gene, and nested PCR with primers targeting the gene for Leishmania internal transcribed spacer-1 (its-1) of ribosomal RNA its-1rRNA. The PCR products were sequenced. Results Gene sequence analysis revealed five species of sand flies belonging to the old-world genera namely Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. The identified species were P. papatasi (6.45%), S. adleri (6.45%), S. affinis (9.7%), S. distincta (9.7%), S. schwetzi (67.7%). Within the sampling period, sand flies were most abundant in the rainy months of August (104/33.5%) and September (116/37.4%) with all the five identified species occurring. Sequence analysis of its-1 gene identified Leishmania infantum in two sand flies (2/310)- P. papatasi (from Sokoto South) and S. affinis (from Wamakko). BLAST search in NCBI and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the sand fly species are related to the species reported in different parts of Africa, while the L. infantum is identical to strain reported in Brazil (KY379083.1). Discussion Phlebotomus papatasi and four species belonging to the genus Sergentomyia are the most prevalent sand flies in Sokoto State, Nigeria and they harbor L. infantum solely. The results shed light on why visceral leishmaniasis is the most predominant form of the disease. Therefore, we recommend that adequate care for dogs must be instituted as dogs are the major animal reservoir for L. infantum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmud Usman
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Audu Joseph Natala
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Isa Danladi Jatau
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Ndudim Isaac Ogo
- Parasitology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Ghulam Jeelani
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Goto
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Tokyo University, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
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11
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Siqueira WF, Cardoso MS, Fraga VG, Ottino J, Ribeiro VM, Gondim CN, de Paiva Barçante JM, Amado Gomes AC, Galdino AS, Eersels K, van Grinsven B, Bartholomeu DC, Bueno LL, Cleij T, Fujiwara RT. Immunogenic mapping of rDyn-1 and rKDDR-plus proteins and selection of oligopeptides by immunoblotting for the diagnosis of Leishmania infantum-infected dogs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011535. [PMID: 37540724 PMCID: PMC10442149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Endemic in Brazil, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic infection that is among the most important parasitic diseases transmitted by vectors. Dogs are the main reservoirs of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and their identification is used in some countries as part of disease prevention and control measures in the canine and human population. In this context, serological tests are necessary, composed of antigens capable of correctly identifying infected dogs, minimizing the number of false-negative cases. This study aimed to identify more immunoreactive peptides derived from two previously described whole proteins (rDyn-1 and rKDDR-plus) and compare their performance to the control antigens rK39 and the crude extract for the detection of dogs infected with L. infantum, especially the asymptomatic ones. The three selected peptides and a mixture of them, along with the rDyn-1, rKDDR-plus, rK39, and crude extract antigens were evaluated using indirect ELISA with sera samples from 186 dogs with CanL, being asymptomatic (n = 50), symptomatic (n = 50), co-infected (n = 19), infected with Babesia sp. (n = 7), Ehrlichia sp. (n = 6), T. cruzi (n = 20) and uninfected (n = 34). The results showed that the rDyn-1 protein and the peptide mixture had the highest sensitivity (100% and 98.32%, respectively) and specificity (97.01 and 98.51, respectively). A high degree of kappa agreement was found for rDyn-1 protein (0.977), mixed peptides (0.965), rKDDR-plus protein (0.953), K-plus peptide 1 (0.930) and Dyn-1 peptide (0.893). The mixture of peptides showed the highest likelihood (65.87). The ELISA using the mixture of peptides and the rDyn-1 protein showed high performance for CanL serodiagnosis. More mix combinations of the peptides and additional extended field tests with a larger sample size are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Williane Fernanda Siqueira
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Faculty of Science and Engineering of Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
| | - Mariana Santos Cardoso
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Gomes Fraga
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jennifer Ottino
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Vitor Márcio Ribeiro
- Veterinary School, Pontificial Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Betim, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Kasper Eersels
- Faculty of Science and Engineering of Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
| | - Bart van Grinsven
- Faculty of Science and Engineering of Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
| | | | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thomas Cleij
- Faculty of Science and Engineering of Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
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12
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Koh CC, Gollob KJ, Dutra WO. Balancing the functions of DNA extracellular traps in intracellular parasite infections: implications for host defense, disease pathology and therapy. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:450. [PMID: 37474501 PMCID: PMC10359321 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05994-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The release of DNA to the extracellular milieu is a biological process referred to as etosis, which is involved in both physiological and pathological functions. Although the release of DNA extracellular traps (ETs) was initially attributed to innate immune cells such as neutrophils, eosinophils, and macrophages, recent studies have shown that T cells, as well as non-immune cells, are capable of releasing ETs. These structures were described primarily for their potential to trap and kill pathogens, presenting an important strategy of host defense. Intriguingly, these functions have been associated with intracellular pathogens such as the parasites Leishmania sp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agents of leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, respectively. These are two devastating tropical diseases that lead to thousands of deaths every year. In an apparent contradiction, ETs can also induce and amplify inflammation, which may lead to worsening disease pathology. This has prompted the concept of targeting ETs' release as a means of controlling tissue destruction to treat human diseases. What is the best approach to prevent disease severity: inducing ETs to kill pathogens or preventing their release? In this Perspective article, we will discuss the importance of understanding ETs released by different cell types and the need to balance their potentially complementary functions. In addition, we will explore other functions of ETs and their translational applications to benefit individuals infected with intracellular parasites and other pathogens. Ultimately, a better understanding of the role of ETs in disease pathogenesis will provide valuable insights into developing novel therapies for human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Cattoni Koh
- Morphology Dept, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Kenneth J Gollob
- National Institute for Science & Technology in Tropical Diseases - INCT-DT, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Walderez O Dutra
- Morphology Dept, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
- National Institute for Science & Technology in Tropical Diseases - INCT-DT, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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13
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DeMichele E, Sosnowski O, Buret AG, Allain T. Regulatory Functions of Hypoxia in Host-Parasite Interactions: A Focus on Enteric, Tissue, and Blood Protozoa. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1598. [PMID: 37375100 PMCID: PMC10303274 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Body tissues are subjected to various oxygenic gradients and fluctuations and hence can become transiently hypoxic. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is the master transcriptional regulator of the cellular hypoxic response and is capable of modulating cellular metabolism, immune responses, epithelial barrier integrity, and local microbiota. Recent reports have characterized the hypoxic response to various infections. However, little is known about the role of HIF activation in the context of protozoan parasitic infections. Growing evidence suggests that tissue and blood protozoa can activate HIF and subsequent HIF target genes in the host, helping or hindering their pathogenicity. In the gut, enteric protozoa are adapted to steep longitudinal and radial oxygen gradients to complete their life cycle, yet the role of HIF during these protozoan infections remains unclear. This review focuses on the hypoxic response to protozoa and its role in the pathophysiology of parasitic infections. We also discuss how hypoxia modulates host immune responses in the context of protozoan infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily DeMichele
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (E.D.); (O.S.); (A.G.B.)
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Olivia Sosnowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (E.D.); (O.S.); (A.G.B.)
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Andre G. Buret
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (E.D.); (O.S.); (A.G.B.)
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Thibault Allain
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (E.D.); (O.S.); (A.G.B.)
- Inflammation Research Network, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Host-Parasite Interactions, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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14
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Mahdavi R, Shams-Eldin H, Witt S, Latz A, Heinz D, Fresco-Taboada A, Aira C, Hübner MP, Sukyte D, Visekruna A, Teixeira HC, Abass E, Steinhoff U. Development of a Novel Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Lateral Flow Test System for Improved Serodiagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Different Areas of Endemicity. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0433822. [PMID: 37074181 PMCID: PMC10269724 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04338-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania donovani complex and is one of the most prominent vector-borne infectious diseases with epidemic and mortality potential if not correctly diagnosed and treated. East African countries suffer from a very high incidence of VL, and although several diagnostic tests are available for VL, diagnosis continues to represent a big challenge in these countries due to the lack of sensitivity and specificity of current serological tools. Based on bioinformatic analysis, a new recombinant kinesin antigen from Leishmania infantum (rKLi8.3) was developed. The diagnostic performance of rKLi8.3 was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow test (LFT) on a panel of sera from Sudanese, Indian, and South American patients diagnosed with VL or other diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria, and trypanosomiasis. The diagnostic accuracy of rKLi8.3 was compared with rK39 and rKLO8 antigens. The VL-specific sensitivity of rK39, rKLO8, and rKLi8.3 ranged from 91.2% over 92.4% to 97.1% and specificity ranged from 93.6% over 97.6% to 99.2%, respectively. In India, all tests showed a comparable specificity of 90.9%, while the sensitivity ranged from 94.7% to 100% (rKLi8.3). In contrast to commercial serodiagnostic tests, rKLi8.3-based ELISA and LFT showed improved sensitivity and no cross-reactivity with other parasitic diseases. Thus, rKLi8.3-based ELISA and LFT offer improved VL serodiagnostic efficiency in East Africa and other areas of endemicity. IMPORTANCE Reliable and field suitable serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in East Africa has until now been a big challenge due to low sensitivity and cross-reactivity with other pathogens. To improve VL serodiagnosis, a new recombinant kinesin antigen from Leishmania infantum (rKLi8.3) was developed and tested with a panel of sera from Sudanese, Indian, and South American patients diagnosed with VL or other infectious diseases. Both prototype rKLi8.3-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow test (LFT) showed improved sensitivity and no cross-reactivity with other parasitic diseases. Thus, rKLi8.3-based ELISA and LFT offer substantially increased diagnostic efficiency for VL in East Africa and other areas of endemicity, compared to currently commercially available serodiagnostic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouzbeh Mahdavi
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Hosam Shams-Eldin
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Witt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Latz
- Novatec Immundiagnostica GmbH, part of Gold Standard Diagnostics Europe, Dietzenbach, Germany
| | - Daniela Heinz
- Novatec Immundiagnostica GmbH, part of Gold Standard Diagnostics Europe, Dietzenbach, Germany
| | - Alba Fresco-Taboada
- Eurofins-Immunologia y Genética Aplicada S.A. (Eurofins Ingenasa S.A.), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Aira
- Eurofins-Immunologia y Genética Aplicada S.A. (Eurofins Ingenasa S.A.), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dalia Sukyte
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Visekruna
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Henrique C. Teixeira
- Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | - Elfadil Abass
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ulrich Steinhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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15
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Ashraf Talesh S, Mahmoudi S, Mohebali M, Mamishi S. A rare presentation of visceral leishmaniasis and epididymo-orchitis in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease. Clin Case Rep 2023; 11:e7426. [PMID: 37273673 PMCID: PMC10233215 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.7426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has rarely been reported in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), despite the fact that they seem more susceptible to intracellular infection. We describe a rare presentation of VL and epididymo-orchitis in a patient with CGD, which has not been seen previously in the literature following inflammatory syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaghayegh Ashraf Talesh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Children's Medical CenterTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Shima Mahmoudi
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Research CenterTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public HealthTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Setareh Mamishi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Children's Medical CenterTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Research CenterTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
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16
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van der Ende J, Schallig HDFH. Leishmania Animal Models Used in Drug Discovery: A Systematic Review. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101650. [PMID: 37238080 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Many different animal models are in use for drug development for leishmaniasis, but a universal model does not exist. There is a plethora of models, and this review assesses their design, quality, and limitations, including the attention paid to animal welfare in the study design and execution. A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines of available literature after the year 2000 describing animal models for leishmaniasis. The risk of bias was determined using the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias assessment tool. A total of 10,980 records were initially identified after searching the databases PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, and SciELO. Based on the application of predetermined exclusion and inclusion criteria, a total of 203 papers describing 216 animal experiments were available for full analysis. Major reasons for exclusion were a lack of essential study information or appropriate ethical review and approval. Mice (82.8%; an average of 35.9 animals per study) and hamsters (17.1%; an average of 7.4 animals per study) were the most frequently used animals, mostly commercially sourced, in the included studies. All studies lacked a formal sample size analysis. The promastigote stages of L. amazonensis or L. major were most frequently used to establish experimental infections (single inoculum). Animal welfare was poorly addressed in all included studies, as the definition of a human end-point or consideration of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) was hardly addressed. Most animals were euthanized at the termination of the experiment. The majority of the studies had an unknown or high risk of bias. Animal experiments for drug development for leishmaniasis mainly poorly designed and of low quality, lack appropriate ethical review, and are deficient in essential information needed to replicate and interpret the study. Importantly, aspects of animal welfare are hardly considered. This underpins the need to better consider and record the details of the study design and animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob van der Ende
- Fundación Quina Care Ecuador, Puerto el Carmen de Putumayo 210350, Sucumbíos, Ecuador
| | - Henk D F H Schallig
- Experimental Parasitology Unit, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Academic Medical Centre at the University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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17
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Kindie EA, Yefter ET, Alemu BA, Gurji TB, Tadesse AK. Pediatric lymphatic leishmaniasis: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2023; 17:123. [PMID: 37020261 PMCID: PMC10077700 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-023-03852-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are three main forms of leishmaniases: visceral (the most serious form because it is almost always fatal without treatment), cutaneous (the most common, usually causing skin ulcers), and mucocutaneous (affecting mouth, nose, and throat). Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasites, which are transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies. The disease affects some of the world's poorest people and is associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, a weak immune system, and lack of financial resources. An estimated 700,000 to 1 million new cases occur annually. Only a small fraction of those infected by parasites causing leishmaniasis will eventually develop the disease. We report a case of exclusive lymph node involvement in leishmaniasis, presenting as localized lymphadenopathies. The diagnosis of lymphatic leishmaniasis was confirmed by the presence of Leishmania donovani bodies in fine needle aspiration cytology, and positive anti-rK39 antibodies. The bone marrow aspiration was negative for Leishmania donovani bodies. Abdominal ultrasound was done and there was no organomegaly. Furthermore, localized lymphadenopathies may provide a diagnostic challenge by clinically mimicking a lymphoma or other causes of lymphadenopathy. Due to its rarity and its tendency to pose a clinical diagnostic challenge, we decided to report a case of lymphatic leishmaniasis. CASE PRESENTATION A 12-year-old Amara male patient presented to the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwestern Ethiopia, with six discrete right lateral cervical lymphadenopathies, the largest measuring 3 × 2 cm2, with no cutaneous lesion. Fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed the diagnosis of leishmaniasis in lymph node, and he was put on sodium stibogluconate (20 mg/kg body weight/day) and paromomycin (15 mg/kg body weight/day) injections, which are given intramuscularly for 17 days. Having completed his medication at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, he had a smooth course and was discharged with appointment scheduled for follow-up after 3 months. CONCLUSION In the clinical evaluation of a patient with isolated lymphadenopathies, leishmaniasis must be considered as a differential diagnosis in immunocompetent subjects in endemic areas for early diagnostic workup and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endeshaw Asaye Kindie
- Department of Pathology, University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | | | - Bewketu Abebe Alemu
- Department of Pathology, University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tiruzer Bekele Gurji
- Department of Pathology, University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Amanuel Kassa Tadesse
- Department of Pathology, University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia
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18
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Devsani N, Vemula D, Bhandari V. The glycoprotein gp63- a potential pan drug target for developing new antileishmanial agents. Biochimie 2023; 207:75-82. [PMID: 36473603 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a tropical parasitic disease caused by Leishmania spp. They cause several presentations of illness ranging from cutaneous leishmaniasis to visceral leishmaniasis. The current arsenal of drugs to treat leishmaniasis is limited, and drug resistance further impedes the problem. Therefore, it is necessary to revisit the available information to identify an alternative or new target for treatment. The glycoprotein 63 (gp63), is a potential anti-leishmanial target that plays a significant role in host-pathogen interaction and virulence. Many studies are ongoing to develop gp63 inhibitors or use it as a vaccine target. In this review, we will discuss the potential of gp63 as a drug target. This review summarises the studies focusing on gp63 as a drug target and its inhibitors identified using in silico approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrata Devsani
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Divya Vemula
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Vasundhra Bhandari
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India.
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19
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Fujimori M, Valencia-Portillo RT, Lindoso JAL, Celeste BJ, de Almeida RP, Costa CHN, da Cruz AM, Druzian AF, Duthie MS, Fortaleza CMCB, de Oliveira ALL, Paniago AMM, Queiroz IT, Reed S, Vallur AC, Goto H, Sanchez MCA. Recombinant protein KR95 as an alternative for serological diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282483. [PMID: 36862710 PMCID: PMC9980733 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Americas, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum, leading to death if not promptly diagnosed and treated. In Brazil, the disease reaches all regions, and in 2020, 1,933 VL cases were reported with 9.5% lethality. Thus, an accurate diagnosis is essential to provide the appropriate treatment. Serological VL diagnosis is based mainly on immunochromatographic tests, but their performance may vary by location, and evaluation of diagnostic alternatives is necessary. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of ELISA with the scantily studied recombinant antigens, K18 and KR95, comparing their performance with the already known rK28 and rK39. Sera from parasitologically confirmed symptomatic VL patients (n = 90) and healthy endemic controls (n = 90) were submitted to ELISA with rK18 and rKR95. Sensitivity (95% CI) was, respectively, 83.3% (74.2-89.7) and 95.6% (88.8-98.6), and specificity (95% CI) was 93.3% (85.9-97.2) and 97.8% (91.8-99.9). For validation of ELISA with the recombinant antigens, we included samples from 122 VL patients and 83 healthy controls collected in three regions in Brazil (Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest). When comparing the results obtained with the VL patients' samples, significantly lower sensitivity was obtained by rK18-ELISA (88.5%, 95% CI: 81.5-93.2) compared with rK28-ELISA (95.9%, 95% CI: 90.5-98.5), but the sensitivity was similar comparing rKR95-ELISA (95.1%, 95% CI: 89.5-98.0), rK28-ELISA (95.9%, 95% CI: 90.5-98.5), and rK39-ELISA (94.3%, 95% CI: 88.4-97.4). Analyzing the specificity, it was lowest with rK18-ELISA (62.7%, 95% CI: 51.9-72.3) with 83 healthy control samples. Conversely, higher and similar specificity was obtained by rKR95-ELISA (96.4%, 95% CI: 89.5-99.2), rK28-ELISA (95.2%, 95% CI: 87.9-98.5), and rK39-ELISA (95.2%, 95% CI: 87.9-98.5). There was no difference in sensitivity and specificity across localities. Cross-reactivity assessment, performed with sera of patients diagnosed with inflammatory disorders and other infectious diseases, was 34.2% with rK18-ELISA and 3.1% with rKR95-ELISA. Based on these data, we suggest using recombinant antigen KR95 in serological assays for VL diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahyumi Fujimori
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - José Angelo Lauletta Lindoso
- Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Julieta Celeste
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roque Pacheco de Almeida
- Departamento de Medicina Interna e Patologia, Hospital Universitário/EBSERH, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | | | - Alda Maria da Cruz
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Angelita Fernandes Druzian
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Igor Thiago Queiroz
- Hospital Giselda Trigueiro, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde Pública, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Steve Reed
- HDT Bio, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Aarthy C. Vallur
- InBios International Inc, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Hiro Goto
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Carmen Arroyo Sanchez
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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20
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Busch D, Bogdan C, Erfurt-Berge C. Clinical Manifestation of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Following a Mechanical Trauma. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOWER EXTREMITY WOUNDS 2023; 22:146-148. [PMID: 33135533 DOI: 10.1177/1534734620968964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Unusual skin ulcers frequently represent a diagnostic challenge. When the most common disease entities such as arterial, venous or diabetic ulcers have been excluded, the question of further differential diagnoses and procedures arises. Other possible causes include chronic inflammatory diseases, neoplasia, self-inflicted wounds, primary infectious diseases and physical/chemical damage to the skin. To narrow down the differential diagnoses, a detailed history of the patient is essential, which also needs to include events further back in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee Busch
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Bogdan
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Erfurt-Berge
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Louizi C, Khan MAA, Faisal K, Chowdhury R, Ghosh P, Hossain F, Nisansala T, Ranasinghe S, Moreno J, Alvar J, Mondal D, Buhl T, Lüder CGK, Abd El Wahed A. Assessment of pan-Leishmania detection by recombinase polymerase amplification assay. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 105:115862. [PMID: 36493571 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The spread of vector habitats along with increasing human mobility can introduce atypical Leishmania species and hence can challenge existing diagnostic practices for rapid detection of active infection with species outside the narrow target range. Here we assessed the pan-Leishmania detection ability of isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays targeting 18S rRNA gene, cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase B (Cpb) gene, and kinetoplast minicircle DNA (kDNA) regions. While the lowest limit of detection of the 18S rRNA-RPA and Cpb-RPA assays were estimated as 12 and 17 standard DNA molecules, respectively, both assays could amplify genomic DNA of 7 pathogenic Leishmania species. Evaluation of 18S rRNA-RPA and our previously developed kDNA-RPA assays on 70 real-time PCR-positive leishmaniasis samples of varying pathologies resulted in sensitivity rates of 35.71% and 88.57%, respectively, while the combined sensitivity was 98.57%. Combinatorial application of 18S rRNA-RPA and kDNA-RPA assays can be recommended for further diagnostic assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiheb Louizi
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Md Anik Ashfaq Khan
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Khaledul Faisal
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rajashree Chowdhury
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Prakash Ghosh
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Faria Hossain
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Thilini Nisansala
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Baru, Kelantan, Malaysia; Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Shalindra Ranasinghe
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Alvar
- Royal Academy of Medicine of Spain, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dinesh Mondal
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Laboratory Sciences and Services Division, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Timo Buhl
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carsten G K Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ahmed Abd El Wahed
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Santana Filho PC, Brasil da Silva M, Malaquias da Silva BN, Fazolo T, Dorneles GP, Braun de Azeredo J, Alf da Rosa M, Rodrigues Júnior LC, Peres A, Santos Canto RF, Torres Romão PR. Seleno-indoles trigger reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction in Leishmania amazonensis. Tetrahedron 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2023.133329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
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23
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Peixoto JF, Oliveira ADS, Gonçalves-Oliveira LF, Souza-Silva F, Alves CR. Epoxy-α-lapachone (2,2-Dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-spiro[2H-naphtho[2,3-b]pyran-10,2'-oxirane]-5(10H)-one): a promising molecule to control infections caused by protozoan parasites. Braz J Infect Dis 2023; 27:102743. [PMID: 36731538 PMCID: PMC9932704 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2023.102743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products and their derivatives have been sources of search and research for new drugs for the treatment of neglected diseases. Naphthoquinones, a special group of quinones, are products of natural metabolites with a wide spectrum of biological activities and represent a group of interesting molecules for new therapeutic propositions. Among these compounds, lapachol stands out as a molecule from the heartwood of Tabebuia sp. whose structural changes resulted in compounds considered promising, such as epoxy-α-lapachone (ELAP). The biological activity of ELAP has been demonstrated, so far, for parasitic protozoa such as Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma cruzi and Plasmodium spp., species causing diseases needing new drug development and adequate health policy. This work gathers in vitro and in vivo studies on these parasites, as well as the toxicity profile, and the probable mechanisms of action elucidated until then. The potential of ELAP-based technology alternatives for a further drug is discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Figueiredo Peixoto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Adriane da Silva Oliveira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luiz Filipe Gonçalves-Oliveira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Iguaçu, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Muacevic A, Adler JR, Ludlow K, Merideth D, Haynes W, Shrivastava V. Relevant Dermatoses Among U.S. Military Service Members: An Operational Review of Management Strategies and Telemedicine Utilization. Cureus 2023; 15:e33274. [PMID: 36741595 PMCID: PMC9891841 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.33274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite skin being the largest and most exposed organ of the human body, skin issues can be challenging to diagnose in deployed military service members. Common reasons deployed soldiers seek dermatological evaluation include infections, inflammatory skin conditions, and skin growth. Due to limited access to specialized care in deployed settings, dermatological conditions are undertreated and underdiagnosed. As a result, dermatological conditions are a leading contributor to decreased combat effectiveness among deployed medical forces. To lessen the burden of dermatological diseases, military providers should promptly identify operational skin diseases and alleviate modifiable barriers faced by service members. In a post-pandemic era with novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and monkeypox infections, the duty to effectively treat operational skin lesions is ever important. The need for military dermatologists continues to rise as the global landscape continues to evolve with unprecedented infections and increased bioterrorism threats. Teledermatology offers many solutions to mitigate the high demand for dermatologists during pandemics. Dermatological consultations account for the highest number of telemedicine visits in the US Military Health System (MHS). As such, increased utilization of teledermatology will reduce infection-related dermatological sequelae and prevent the medical evacuation of service members from military operations. This review collates and categorizes relevant dermatological conditions encountered among deployed personnel. This report outlines the standard of care and modified treatments recommended according to potential barriers faced in operational settings.
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Lacerda-Abreu MA, Dick CF, Meyer-Fernandes JR. The Role of Inorganic Phosphate Transporters in Highly Proliferative Cells: From Protozoan Parasites to Cancer Cells. MEMBRANES 2022; 13:42. [PMID: 36676849 PMCID: PMC9860751 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In addition to their standard inorganic phosphate (Pi) nutritional function, Pi transporters have additional roles in several cells, including Pi sensing (the so-called transceptor) and a crucial role in Pi metabolism, where they control several phenotypes, such as virulence in pathogens and tumour aggressiveness in cancer cells. Thus, intracellular Pi concentration should be tightly regulated by the fine control of intake and storage in organelles. Pi transporters are classified into two groups: the Pi transporter (PiT) family, also known as the Pi:Na+ symporter family; and the Pi:H+ symporter (PHS) family. Highly proliferative cells, such as protozoan parasites and cancer cells, rely on aerobic glycolysis to support the rapid generation of biomass, which is equated with the well-known Warburg effect in cancer cells. In protozoan parasite cells, Pi transporters are strongly associated with cell proliferation, possibly through their action as intracellular Pi suppliers for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity. Similarly, the growth rate hypothesis (GRH) proposes that the high Pi demands of tumours when achieving accelerated proliferation are mainly due to increased allocation to P-rich nucleic acids. The purpose of this review was to highlight recent advances in understanding the role of Pi transporters in unicellular eukaryotes and tumorigenic cells, correlating these roles with metabolism in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Antonio Lacerda-Abreu
- Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Claudia Fernanda Dick
- National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes
- Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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An RNA Interference (RNAi) Toolkit and Its Utility for Functional Genetic Analysis of Leishmania ( Viannia). Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:genes14010093. [PMID: 36672832 PMCID: PMC9858808 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool whose efficacy against a broad range of targets enables functional genetic tests individually or systematically. However, the RNAi pathway has been lost in evolution by a variety of eukaryotes including most Leishmania sp. RNAi was retained in species of the Leishmania subgenus Viannia, and here we describe the development, optimization, and application of RNAi tools to the study of L. (Viannia) braziliensis (Lbr). We developed vectors facilitating generation of long-hairpin or "stem-loop" (StL) RNAi knockdown constructs, using GatewayTM site-specific recombinase technology. A survey of applications of RNAi in L. braziliensis included genes interspersed within multigene tandem arrays such as quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR), a potential target or modulator of antifolate sensitivity. Other tests include genes involved in cell differentiation and amastigote proliferation (A600), and essential genes of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) pathway. We tested a range of stem lengths targeting the L. braziliensis hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) and reporter firefly luciferase (LUC) genes and found that the efficacy of RNAi increased with stem length, and fell off greatly below about 128 nt. We used the StL length dependency to establish a useful 'hypomorphic' approach not possible with other gene ablation strategies, with shorter IFT140 stems yielding viable cells with compromised flagellar morphology. We showed that co-selection for RNAi against adenine phosphoryl transferase (APRT1) using 4-aminopyrazolpyrimidine (APP) could increase the efficacy of RNAi against reporter constructs, a finding that may facilitate improvements in future work. Thus, for many genes, RNAi provides a useful tool for studying Leishmania gene function with some unique advantages.
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27
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Rai P, Arya H, Saha S, Kumar D, Bhatt TK. Drug repurposing based novel anti-leishmanial drug screening using in-silico and in-vitro approaches. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:10812-10820. [PMID: 36529188 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1950574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease and is mainly caused by L. donovani in the Indian subcontinent. The mitochondria genome replication in Leishmania spp. is having a very specific mechanism, and it is initiated by a key enzyme called mitochondrial primase. This enzyme is essential for the onset of the replication process and growth of the parasite. Therefore, we focused on the primase protein as a potential therapeutic target for combating leishmaniasis diseases. We started our studies molecular modeling and followed by docking of the FDA-approved drug library into the binding site of the primase protein. The top 30 selected compounds were subjected for molecular dynamics studies. Also, the target protein was cloned, purified, and tested experimentally (primase activity assays and inhibition assays). Some compounds were very effective against the Leishmania cell culture. All these approaches helped us to identify few possible novel anti-leishmanial drugs such as Pioglitazone and Mupirocin. These drugs are effectively involved in inhibiting the promastigote of L. donovani, and it can be utilized in the next level of clinical trials. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Rai
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Hemant Arya
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Satabdi Saha
- Department of Microbiology, Assam University, Silchar, India
| | - Diwakar Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Assam University, Silchar, India
| | - Tarun Kumar Bhatt
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
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Macrophage Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Metabolic Reprogramming Induced by Leishmania donovani Require Lipophosphoglycan and Type I Interferon Signaling. mBio 2022; 13:e0257822. [PMID: 36222510 PMCID: PMC9764995 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02578-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogen-specific rewiring of host cell metabolism creates the metabolically adapted microenvironment required for pathogen replication. Here, we investigated the mechanisms governing the modulation of macrophage mitochondrial properties by the vacuolar pathogen Leishmania. We report that induction of oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis by Leishmania donovani requires the virulence glycolipid lipophosphoglycan, which stimulates the expression of key transcriptional regulators and structural genes associated with the electron transport chain. Leishmania-induced mitochondriogenesis also requires a lipophosphoglycan-independent pathway involving type I interferon (IFN) receptor signaling. The observation that pharmacological induction of mitochondrial biogenesis enables an avirulent lipophosphoglycan-defective L. donovani mutant to survive in macrophages supports the notion that mitochondrial biogenesis contributes to the creation of a metabolically adapted environment propitious to the colonization of host cells by the parasite. This study provides novel insight into the complex mechanism by which Leishmania metacyclic promastigotes alter host cell mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism during the colonization process. IMPORTANCE To colonize host phagocytes, Leishmania metacyclic promastigotes subvert host defense mechanisms and create a specialized intracellular niche adapted to their replication. This is accomplished through the action of virulence factors, including the surface coat glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan. In addition, Leishmania induces proliferation of host cell mitochondria as well as metabolic reprogramming of macrophages. These metabolic alterations are crucial to the colonization process of macrophages, as they may provide metabolites required for parasite growth. In this study, we describe a new key role for lipophosphoglycan in the stimulation of oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis. We also demonstrate that host cell pattern recognition receptors Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and endosomal TLRs mediate these Leishmania-induced alterations of host cell mitochondrial biology, which also require type I IFN signaling. These findings provide new insight into how Leishmania creates a metabolically adapted environment favorable to their replication.
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Akkuzu G, Ozkara S, Ozgur DS, Karaalioglu B, Yıldırım F, Ayer M, Bes C. Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: Dilemma in diagnosis and management. Int J Rheum Dis 2022; 26:769-773. [PMID: 36502503 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Patients with systemic lupus erythemasus (SLE) have an increased risk of bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections, especially if they are receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by intracellular flagellate protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania. We present a 48-year-old female patient, diagnosed with SLE many years ago, who presented with high fever and pancytopenia. We thought that the patient's hematologic findings were related to SLE hematologic involvement. However, we investigated other possible causes when there was no response to drugs for the treatment of SLE. A second bone marrow biopsy showed Leishmania amastigotes and the patient was diagnosed with leishmaniasis. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin-B (treatment completed at 40 days). She showed rapid clinical improvement and showed no signs of disease after 4 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamze Akkuzu
- Department of Rheumatology Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences İstanbul Turkey
| | - Selvinaz Ozkara
- Department of Pathology Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences İstanbul Turkey
| | - Duygu Sevinc Ozgur
- Department of Rheumatology Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences İstanbul Turkey
| | - Bilgin Karaalioglu
- Department of Rheumatology Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences İstanbul Turkey
| | - Fatih Yıldırım
- Department of Rheumatology Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences İstanbul Turkey
| | - Mesut Ayer
- Department of Hematology Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences İstanbul Turkey
| | - Cemal Bes
- Department of Rheumatology Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, University of Health Sciences İstanbul Turkey
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Ouattassi N, Titou A, Hammas N, Kamal D, El Alami MNEA. Squamous cell carcinoma associated with an active cutaneous leishmaniasis in immunocompetent patient: case presentation of an unlikely association and literature—review. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43163-022-00335-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Association between leishmaniasis and malignancy can be classified into four categories: leishmaniasis mimicking malignancy, leishmaniasis co-existing with malignancy, malignancy developing in patients with leishmaniasis scar, and leishmaniasis developing in patients with malignancy. In immunocompetent patients, the main form of association is cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) developing within cutaneous leishmaniasis scar years after cutaneous leishmaniasis is cured. Association of active cutaneous leishmaniasis and cSCC is exceptional, we are aware of two more cases.
Case presentation
A 30-year-old man presented with 2 years history of an unhealed wound on the dorsum nasi. As there still exist few sites of leishmaniasis in Morocco, systematic screening for leishmania was performed. Leishmania bodies were identified on slit skin smear by Giemsa staining. The patient received local antibiotic and on-site injections of 4 cc of meglumine antimonate for 2 months without any improvement. The lesion volume has increased significantly, a biopsy revealed an invasive squamous cell carcinoma. After staging assessment, the patient underwent a complete removal of the nasal tumor with a 1-cm margin, associated with right modified radical neck dissection. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of SCC with no lymph nodes metastasis. Nasal reconstruction was performed 2 weeks later using a frontal flap. Oncology meeting board advised adjuvant radiation on the tumor. The patient is followed up regularly and remains free of disease for a year now.
Conclusion
Although many cancers are related to infection (viral or parasitic), there is no proven link between leishmaniasis and malignancy. However, there are many etiopathogenic theories based on pathology finding that involve chronic inflammation inducing dysplasia, mitotic abnormalities, and expression of p53.
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Solomon M, Gimple A, Fuchs I, Cicurel A, Meninger T, Avni D, Nasereddin A, Jaffe CL, Schwartz E. Failure to Detect Leishmania in the Blood of Patients with Old-World Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Implications for Blood Donation. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:996-998. [PMID: 36216319 PMCID: PMC9709017 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Israel, caused mainly by Leishmania major (L. major) and L. tropica. In addition, returning travelers import another leishmanial species such as L. braziliensis. Although we are dealing with a skin disease, the blood bank in Israel does not accept blood donations from people infected with CL in cases of multiple lesions due to the possibility of transfusion. Our purpose was to investigate the prevalence of Leishmania in the blood of patients with active or previous CL. This pilot study screened patients with active or previous CL for parasites in their blood. All patients were infected in Israel or were returning travelers with leishmaniasis acquired in Latin America. Patients were seen at the Sheba Medical Center. In addition, patients were seen at their homes in L. tropica and L. major endemic regions in Israel. Blood samples were taken from each patient for culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Altogether 62 blood samples were examined (L. tropica = 26, L. major = 33, and L. braziliensis = 3). Twenty-seven patients had an active disease and 35 were recovered. All blood cultures and PCR were negative for parasites except one blood sample that was PCR positive for L. braziliensis. The findings of our study, although a small sample, suggest that people with active or recent CL caused by L. major and L. tropica, do not harbor parasites in their blood. Thus, their exclusion from blood donation should be revisited. Further studies are needed with larger sample size and highly sensitive tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Solomon
- Department of Dermatology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ariel Gimple
- Department of Dermatology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbal Fuchs
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, Ben Gurion University, Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Assi Cicurel
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, Ben Gurion University, Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Tal Meninger
- The Institute of Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases and the Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Dror Avni
- The Institute of Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases and the Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Abed Nasereddin
- Department Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Center, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Charles L. Jaffe
- Department Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Center, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eli Schwartz
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Institute of Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases and the Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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Jayaraman A, Srinivasan S, Kar A, Harish B, Charan Raja MR, Uppuluri KB, Kar Mahapatra S. Oceanimonas sp. BPMS22-derived protein protease inhibitor induces anti-leishmanial immune responses through macrophage M2 to M1 repolarization. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 112:109281. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Kuhlmann FM, Key PN, Hickerson SM, Turk J, Hsu FF, Beverley SM. Inositol phosphorylceramide synthase null Leishmania are viable and virulent in animal infections where salvage of host sphingomyelin predominates. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102522. [PMID: 36162499 PMCID: PMC9637897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogens synthesize inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) as the major sphingolipid (SL), differing from the mammalian host where sphingomyelin (SM) or more complex SLs predominate. The divergence between IPC synthase and mammalian SL synthases has prompted interest as a potential drug target. However, in the trypanosomatid protozoan Leishmania, cultured insect stage promastigotes lack de novo SL synthesis (Δspt2-) and SLs survive and remain virulent, as infective amastigotes salvage host SLs and continue to produce IPC. To further understand the role of IPC, we generated null IPCS mutants in Leishmania major (Δipcs-). Unexpectedly and unlike fungi where IPCS is essential, Δipcs- was remarkably normal in culture and highly virulent in mouse infections. Both IPCS activity and IPC were absent in Δipcs- promastigotes and amastigotes, arguing against an alternative route of IPC synthesis. Notably, salvaged mammalian SM was highly abundant in purified amastigotes from both WT and Δipcs-, and salvaged SLs could be further metabolized into IPC. SM was about 7-fold more abundant than IPC in WT amastigotes, establishing that SM is the dominant amastigote SL, thereby rendering IPC partially redundant. These data suggest that SM salvage likely plays key roles in the survival and virulence of both WT and Δipcs- parasites in the infected host, confirmation of which will require the development of methods or mutants deficient in host SL/SM uptake in the future. Our findings call into question the suitability of IPCS as a target for chemotherapy, instead suggesting that approaches targeting SM/SL uptake or catabolism may warrant further emphasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Matthew Kuhlmann
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Phillip N. Key
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Suzanne M. Hickerson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - John Turk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Fong-Fu Hsu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Stephen M. Beverley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA,For correspondence: Stephen M. Beverley
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Visceral Leishmaniasis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Regimens in Different Geographical Areas with a Focus on Pediatrics. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10101887. [PMID: 36296164 PMCID: PMC9609364 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease caused by an intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania that can be lethal if not treated. VL is caused by Leishmania donovani in Asia and in Eastern Africa, where the pathogens’ reservoir is represented by humans, and by Leishmania infantum in Latin America and in the Mediterranean area, where VL is a zoonotic disease and dog is the main reservoir. A part of the infected individuals become symptomatic, with irregular fever, splenomegaly, anemia or pancytopenia, and weakness, whereas others are asymptomatic. VL treatment has made progress in the last decades with the use of new drugs such as liposomal amphotericin B, and with new therapeutic regimens including monotherapy or a combination of drugs, aiming at shorter treatment duration and avoiding the development of resistance. However, the same treatment protocol may not be effective all over the world, due to differences in the infecting Leishmania species, so depending on the geographical area. This narrative review presents a comprehensive description of the clinical picture of VL, especially in children, the diagnostic approach, and some insight into the most used pharmacological therapies available worldwide.
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35
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Solomon M, Fuchs I, Glazer Y, Schwartz E. Gender and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7080179. [PMID: 36006271 PMCID: PMC9416259 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7080179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is estimated to be more common in males than in females. Our purpose was to evaluate differences in preponderance in relation to sex and gender across cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Israel. An observational study was performed, including cases of endemic CL (cutaneous leishmaniasis) in Israel, and imported MCL (mucocutaneous leishmaniasis). CL is a notifiable disease and is supposed to be reported to the Ministry of Health (MOH). The MOH database shows that males as more likely to be infected by leishmania, with an incidence of 5/100,000 in males vs. 3.5/100,000 in females. However, while conducting a demographic house-to-house survey in several locations in Israel where CL is highly endemic, among 608 people who were screened only 49% were males in Leishmania major (L. major) endemic regions and 41% were males in Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) endemic regions, while among 165 cases of imported New-World cutaneous leishmaniasis in Israeli travelers freturning from abroad, 142 (86%) were males. It may be postulated that there is no real gender difference in leishmanial infection, but, perhaps, infections are more commonly seen in men because of referral/reported bias, due to more risk-taking behaviors by men or, perhaps, men are less likely to strictly adhere to recommended preventive measures and thus increase their risk of contracting the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Solomon
- Department of Dermatology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 8436322, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-52-8629799
| | - Inbal Fuchs
- Clalit Health Services-Southern District Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Yael Glazer
- Division of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem 9462401, Israel
| | - Eli Schwartz
- Center for Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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36
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Alves-Sobrinho EV, Pinheiro LDJ, Paranaíba LF, Fontes IC, Parreiras PM, Gontijo NF, Tafuri WL, Laurenti MD, Soares RP. Leishmania enriettii visceralises in the trachea, lungs, and spleen of Cavia porcellus. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e220065. [PMID: 35920504 PMCID: PMC9343011 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760220065] [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: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmania (Mundinia) enriettii is a species commonly found in the guinea pig, Cavia porcellus. Although it is a dermotropic species, there is still an uncertainty regarding its ability to visceralise during Leishmania life cycle. OBJECTIVE Here, we investigated the ability of L. enriettii (strain L88) to visceralise in lungs, trachea, spleen, and liver of C. porcellus, its natural vertebrate host. METHODS Animals were infected sub-cutaneously in the nose and followed for 12 weeks using histological (hematoxilin-eosin) and molecular tools (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism - PCR-RFLP). To isolate parasite from C. porcellus, animals were experimentally infected for viscera removal and PCR typing targeting hsp70 gene. FINDINGS Histological analysis revealed intense and diffuse inflammation with the presence of amastigotes in the trachea, lung, and spleen up to 12 weeks post-infection (PI). Molecular analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues detected parasite DNA in the trachea and spleen between the 4th and 8th weeks PI. At the 12th PI, no parasite DNA was detected in any of the organs. To confirm that the spleen could serve as a temporary site for L. enriettii, we performed additional in vivo experiments. During 6th week PI, the parasite was isolated from the spleen confirming previous histopathological and PCR observations. MAIN CONCLUSION Leishmania enriettii (strain L88) was able to visceralise in the trachea, lung, and spleen of C. porcellus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ednéia Venâncio Alves-Sobrinho
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Lucélia de Jesus Pinheiro
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Patologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Larissa Ferreira Paranaíba
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Igor Campos Fontes
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Patologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Nelder Figueiredo Gontijo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Wagner Luiz Tafuri
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Patologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Márcia Dalastra Laurenti
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Pedro Soares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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Pöhner I, Quotadamo A, Panecka-Hofman J, Luciani R, Santucci M, Linciano P, Landi G, Di Pisa F, Dello Iacono L, Pozzi C, Mangani S, Gul S, Witt G, Ellinger B, Kuzikov M, Santarem N, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Costi MP, Venturelli A, Wade RC. Multitarget, Selective Compound Design Yields Potent Inhibitors of a Kinetoplastid Pteridine Reductase 1. J Med Chem 2022; 65:9011-9033. [PMID: 35675511 PMCID: PMC9289884 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The optimization
of compounds with multiple targets is a difficult
multidimensional problem in the drug discovery cycle. Here, we present
a systematic, multidisciplinary approach to the development of selective
antiparasitic compounds. Computational fragment-based design of novel
pteridine derivatives along with iterations of crystallographic structure
determination allowed for the derivation of a structure–activity
relationship for multitarget inhibition. The approach yielded compounds
showing apparent picomolar inhibition of T. brucei pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1), nanomolar inhibition of L.
major PTR1, and selective submicromolar inhibition of parasite
dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) versus human DHFR. Moreover, by combining
design for polypharmacology with a property-based on-parasite optimization,
we found three compounds that exhibited micromolar EC50 values against T. brucei brucei while retaining
their target inhibition. Our results provide a basis for the further
development of pteridine-based compounds, and we expect our multitarget
approach to be generally applicable to the design and optimization
of anti-infective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Pöhner
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antonio Quotadamo
- Tydock Pharma srl, Strada Gherbella 294/B, 41126 Modena, Italy.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Joanna Panecka-Hofman
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rosaria Luciani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Matteo Santucci
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Pasquale Linciano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Landi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Flavio Di Pisa
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Lucia Dello Iacono
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Pozzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Mangani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sheraz Gul
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, D-22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gesa Witt
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, D-22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Ellinger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, D-22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Discovery Research ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, D-22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nuno Santarem
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria P Costi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Alberto Venturelli
- Tydock Pharma srl, Strada Gherbella 294/B, 41126 Modena, Italy.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Rebecca C Wade
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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38
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Pasha F, Saleem S, Nazir T, Tariq J, Qureshi K. Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar): A Triumph Against a Trickster Disease. Cureus 2022; 14:e25698. [PMID: 35812632 PMCID: PMC9270089 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25698] [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] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a protozoan parasitic pathology, is caused by infection with a parasite known as Leishmania donovani, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of a sand fly. The disease has various manifestations, including cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is mostly seen in the Asian and African regions and can be deadly if left untreated. We present the case of a 10-month-old male infant who was brought to the office with the chief complaints of recurrent fever for the past one month, along with generalized fatigue and poor feeding. A comprehensive history, detailed physical examination, and laboratory testing, including bone marrow aspiration, were performed, and visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed.
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Brar HK, Roy G, Kanojia A, Madan E, Madhubala R, Muthuswami R. Chromatin-Remodeling Factor BRG1 Is a Negative Modulator of L. donovani in IFNγ Stimulated and Infected THP-1 Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:860058. [PMID: 35433496 PMCID: PMC9011159 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.860058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens manipulate the host cell for their own survival by contributing to modifications of host epigenome, and thus, altering expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis. Both ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex and histone modifications has been shown to be involved in the activation of IFNγ responsive genes. Leishmania donovani is an intracellular pathogen that causes visceral leishmaniasis. The strategies employed by Leishmania donovani to modulate the host epigenome in order to overcome the host defense for their persistence has been worked out in this study. We show that L. donovani negatively affects BRG1, a catalytic subunit of mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, to alter IFNγ induced host responses. We observed that L. donovani infection downregulates BRG1 expression both at transcript and protein levels in cells stimulated with IFNγ. We also observed a significant decrease in IFNγ responsive gene, Class II transactivator (CIITA), as well as its downstream genes, MHC-II (HLA-DR and HLA-DM). Also, the occupancy of BRG1 at CIITA promoters I and IV was disrupted. A reversal in CIITA expression and decreased parasite load was observed with BRG1 overexpression, thus, suggesting BRG1 is a potential negative regulator for the survival of intracellular parasites in an early phase of infection. We also observed a decrease in H3 acetylation at the promoters of CIITA, post parasite infection. Silencing of HDAC1, resulted in increased CIITA expression, and further decreased parasite load. Taken together, we suggest that intracellular parasites in an early phase of infection negatively regulates BRG1 by using host HDAC1 for its survival inside the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsimran Kaur Brar
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Gargi Roy
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Akanksha Kanojia
- Chromatin Remodeling Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Evanka Madan
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Rentala Madhubala
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Rentala Madhubala, ; Rohini Muthuswami,
| | - Rohini Muthuswami
- Chromatin Remodeling Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Rentala Madhubala, ; Rohini Muthuswami,
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40
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Islamuddin M, Ali A, Afzal O, Ali A, Ali I, Altamimi AS, Alamri MA, Kato K, Parveen S. Thymoquinone Induced Leishmanicidal Effect via Programmed Cell Death in Leishmania donovani. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:10718-10728. [PMID: 35382308 PMCID: PMC8973115 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar is a vector-borne dreaded protozoal infection that is caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani. With increases in the dramatic infection rates, present drug toxicity, resistance, and the absence of an approved vaccine, the development of new antileishmanial compounds from plant sources remains the keystone for the control of visceral leishmaniasis. In this study, we evaluated the leishmanicidal effect of thymoquinone against L. donovani with an in vitro and ex vivo model. Thymoquinone exhibited potent antipromastigote activity with IC50 and IC90 concentrations achieved at 6.33 ± 1.21 and 20.71 ± 2.15 μM, respectively, whereas the IC50 and IC90 concentrations were found to be 7.83 ± 1.65 and 27.25 ± 2.20 μM against the intramacrophagic form of amastigotes, respectively. Morphological changes in promastigotes and growth reversibility study following treatment confirmed the leishmanicidal effect of thymoquinone. Further, thymoquinone exhibited leishmanicidal activities against L. donovani promastigote through cytoplasmic shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, cellular and nuclear shrinkage, and DNA fragmentation, as observed under scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The antileishmanial activity was exerted via programmed cell death as proved by exposure of phosphatidylserine, DNA nicking by TUNEL assay, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Thymoquinone at a concentration of 200 μM was devoid of any cytotoxic effects against mammalian macrophage cells. Thymoquinone showed strong leishmanicidal activity against L. donovani, which is mediated via an apoptosis mode of parasitic cell death, and accordingly, thymoquinone may be the source of a new lead molecule for the cure of VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Islamuddin
- Molecular
Virology Laboratory, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic
Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
- Laboratory
of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural
Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
| | - Abuzer Ali
- Department
of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Taif
University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Obaid Afzal
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amena Ali
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Intzar Ali
- Department
of Microbiology, Hamdard Institute of Medical
Sciences & Research, New Delhi 110062, India
| | | | - Mubarak A. Alamri
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kentaro Kato
- Laboratory
of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural
Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
| | - Shama Parveen
- Molecular
Virology Laboratory, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic
Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
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41
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Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic and vector-borne infectious disease that is caused by the genus Leishmania belonging to the trypanosomatid family. The protozoan parasite has a digenetic life cycle involving a mammalian host and an insect vector. Leishmaniasisis is a worldwide public health problem falling under the neglected tropical disease category, with over 90 endemic countries, and approximately 1 million new cases and 20,000 deaths annually. Leishmania infection can progress toward the development of species–specific pathologic disorders, ranging in severity from self-healing cutaneous lesions to disseminating muco-cutaneous and fatal visceral manifestations. The severity and the outcome of leishmaniasis is determined by the parasite’s antigenic epitope characteristics, the vector physiology, and most importantly, the immune response and immune status of the host. This review examines the nature of host–pathogen interaction in leishmaniasis, innate and adaptive immune responses, and various strategies that have been employed for vaccine development.
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42
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Kabra R, Singh S. Evolutionary aspect of Miltefosine transporter proteins in Leishmania major. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 130:399-418. [PMID: 35534115 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Transporter proteins, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and P4ATPase-CDC50, are responsible for the transport of Miltefosine drug across cell membrane of a protozoan parasite Leishmania major. Mutations or change in activity of these proteins may lead to emergence of resistance in the parasite. Owing to the structural and functional importance of these transporter proteins, we have tried to decipher the evolutionary divergence of these Miltefosine transporter proteins across different forms of life including Protists, Fungi, Plants and Animals. We retrieved 96, 207, and 189 sequences of P-gp, P4ATPase and CDC50 proteins respectively, across diverse variety of organisms for the conserved analysis. Phylogenetic trees were constructed for these three transporter proteins based on Bayesian posterior probability inference. The evolutionary analysis concluded that these proteins remain highly conserved throughout the species diversity but still substantial differences in the proteins for host (Homo sapiens) and parasite (L. major) were observed which have led in targeting these Miltefosine transporter proteins in a parasite specific manner. The functional and structural components observed in terms of pattern resulting from the variability in the phylogenetic tree are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Kabra
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, India
| | - Shailza Singh
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, India.
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43
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Rahman F, Ali R, Tabrez S, Mobeen A, Akand SK, Arish M, AlAsmari AF, Ali N, Rub A. Exploration of potential inhibitors for autophagy-related protein 8 as antileishmanial agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 2022; 99:816-827. [PMID: 35147279 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is considered a tropical neglected disease, which is caused by an intra-macrophagicparasite, Leishmania. It is endemic in 89 different countries. Autophagy-related protein 8 (Ldatg8) is responsible for the transformation of parasites from promastigote to amastigote differentiation. Ldatg8 is one of the key drug targets of Leishmania donovani (L. donovani) responsible for the defense of parasites during stress conditions. Virtual screening of natural ligands library hadbeen performed against Ldatg8 to identify novel and potent inhibitors. Molecular-docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies showed that urolithin A stably blocked Ldatg8. Urolithins are combinations of coumarin and isocoumarin. Further, we evaluated the antileishmanial effects of urolithin A by antileishmanial assays. Urolithin A inhibited the growth and proliferation of L. donovani promastigotes with an IC50 value of 90.3 ± 6.014 μM. It also inhibited the intra-macrophagic parasite significantly with an IC50 value of 78.67±4.62 μM. It showed limited cytotoxicity to the human THP-1 differentiated macrophages with a CC50 value of 190.80 ± 16.89 μM. Further, we assayed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and annexin V/PI staining upon Urolithin A treatment of parasites to have an insight into the mechanism of its action. It induced ROS significantly in a dose-dependent manner which caused apoptosis partially in parasites. The potential inhibitors for Ldatg8, identified in this study would provide the platform for the development of an effective and affordable antileishmanial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazlur Rahman
- Infection and Immunity Lab (414), Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India, 110025
| | - Rahat Ali
- Infection and Immunity Lab (414), Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India, 110025
| | - Shams Tabrez
- Infection and Immunity Lab (414), Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India, 110025
| | - Ahmed Mobeen
- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sajjadul Kadir Akand
- Infection and Immunity Lab (414), Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India, 110025
| | - Mohd Arish
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Abdullah F AlAsmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box55760, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nemat Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box55760, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdur Rub
- Infection and Immunity Lab (414), Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India, 110025
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New insights into the mechanism of action of the cyclopalladated complex - CP2 in Leishmania: Calcium Dysregulation, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cell Death. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 66:e0076721. [PMID: 34633848 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00767-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The current treatment of leishmaniasis is based on few drugs that present several drawbacks such as high toxicity, difficult administration route, and low efficacy. These disadvantages raise the necessity to develop novel antileishmanial compounds allied to a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms of action. Here, we elucidate the probably mechanism of action of the antileishmanial binuclear cyclopalladated complex [Pd(dmba)(μ-N3)]2 (CP2) in Leishmania amazonensis. CP2 causes oxidative stress in the parasite resulting in disruption of mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis, cell cycle arrest at S-phase, increasing the ROS production and overexpression of stress-related and cell detoxification proteins, collapsing the Leishmania mitochondrial membrane potential and promotes apoptotic-like features in promastigotes leading to necrosis or directs programmed cell death (PCD)-committed cells toward necrotic-like destruction. Moreover, CP2 is able to reduce the parasite load in both liver and spleen in Leishmania infantum-infected hamsters when treated for 15 days with 1.5 mg/Kg/day CP2, expanding its potential application in addition to the already known effectiveness on cutaneous leishmaniasis for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, showing the broad spectrum of action of this cyclopalladated complex. The data herein presented bring new insights into the CP2 molecular mechanisms of action, assisting to promote its rational modification to improve both safety and efficacy.
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Elmahallawy EK, Zanet S, Poggi M, Alsharif KF, Agil A, Trisciuoglio A, Ferroglio E. Feline Leishmaniosis in Northwestern Italy: Current Status and Zoonotic Implications. Vet Sci 2021; 8:215. [PMID: 34679045 PMCID: PMC8539510 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8100215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis remains one of the major neglected tropical diseases. The epidemiological profile of the disease comprises a wide range of hosts, including dogs and cats. Despite several studies about feline Leishmaniosis, the role of cats in disease epidemiology and its clinical impact is still debated. The present study raises awareness about the impact of leishmaniasis in cats from an endemic region in of Northwestern Italy (Liguria). A total number of 250 serum and 282 blood samples were collected from cats, then assessed for Leishmania infantum (L. infantum) serologically using western blot (WB) and molecularly using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also tested the association of Leishmania infection with some infectious agents like haemotropic Mycoplasma, Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) together with the hematobiochemical status of the examined animals. Interestingly, all tested animals were asymptomatic and out of 250 examined serum samples, 33 (13.20%) samples (confidence interval (CI) 95% 9.56-17.96%) were positive at WB for L. infantum, whereas of the 282 blood samples, 80 (28.36%) returned a positive PCR (CI 95% 23.43-33.89%). Furthermore, there was a statistical association between PCR positivity for L. infantum and some hematological parameters besides FIV infection as well as a direct significant correlation between Mycoplasma infection and WB positivity. Taken together, the present findings report high prevalence of L. infantum among cats, which reinforces the significance of such positive asymptomatic animals and confirms the very low humoral response in this species. In addition, the laboratory values provide evidence that infection by the parasite is linked to alteration of some hematological parameters and is correlated to some infectious agents. These data are of interest and suggest future research for accurate diagnosis of such zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain;
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy; (S.Z.); (M.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Stefania Zanet
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy; (S.Z.); (M.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Marco Poggi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy; (S.Z.); (M.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Khalaf F. Alsharif
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahmad Agil
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain;
| | - Anna Trisciuoglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy; (S.Z.); (M.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Ezio Ferroglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy; (S.Z.); (M.P.); (A.T.)
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Siqueira WF, Viana AG, Reis Cunha JL, Rosa LM, Bueno LL, Bartholomeu DC, Cardoso MS, Fujiwara RT. The increased presence of repetitive motifs in the KDDR-plus recombinant protein, a kinesin-derived antigen from Leishmania infantum, improves the diagnostic performance of serological tests for human and canine visceral leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009759. [PMID: 34534217 PMCID: PMC8480608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by protozoa belonging to the Leishmania donovani complex and is considered the most serious and fatal form among the different types of leishmaniasis, if not early diagnosed and treated. Among the measures of disease control stand out the management of infected dogs and the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of human cases. Several antigens have been characterized for use in the VL diagnosis, among them are the recombinant kinesin-derived antigens from L. infantum, as rK39 and rKDDR. The main difference between these antigens is the size of the non-repetitive kinesin region and the number of repetitions of the 39 amino acid degenerate motif (6.5 and 8.5 repeats in rK39 and rKDDR, respectively). This repetitive region has a high antigenicity score. To evaluate the effect of increasing the number of repeats on diagnostic performance, we designed the rKDDR-plus antigen, containing 15.3 repeats of the 39 amino acid degenerate motif, besides the absence of the non-repetitive portion from L. infantum kinesin. Its performance was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT), and compared with the kinesin-derived antigens (rKDDR and rK39). In ELISA with human sera, all recombinant antigens had a sensitivity of 98%, whereas the specificity for rKDDR-plus, rKDDR and rK39 was 100%, 96% and 71%, respectively. When evaluated canine sera, the ELISA sensitivity was 97% for all antigens, and the specificity for rKDDR-plus, rKDDR and rK39 was 98%, 91% and 83%, respectively. Evaluation of the ICT/rKDDR-plus, using human sera, showed greater diagnostic sensitivity (90%) and specificity (100%), when compared to the IT LEISH (79% and 98%, respectively), which is based on the rK39 antigen. These results suggest that the increased presence of repetitive motifs in the rKDDR-plus protein improves the diagnostic performance of serological tests by increasing the specificity and accuracy of the diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Williane Fernanda Siqueira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Agostinho Gonçalves Viana
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - João Luís Reis Cunha
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leticia Mansur Rosa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mariana Santos Cardoso
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Cysteine proteases as potential targets for anti-trypanosomatid drug discovery. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 46:116365. [PMID: 34419821 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are endemic neglected disease in South America and Africa and considered a significant public health problem, mainly in poor communities. The limitations of the current available therapeutic options, including the lack of specificity, relatively high toxicity, and the drug resistance acquiring, drive the constant search for new targets and therapeutic options. Advances in knowledge of parasite biology have revealed essential enzymes involved in the replication, survival, and pathogenicity of Leishmania and Trypanosoma species. In this scenario, cysteine proteases have drawn the attention of researchers and they are being proposed as promising targets for drug discovery of antiprotozoal drugs. In this systematic review, we will provide an update on drug discovery strategies targeting the cysteine proteases as potential targets for chemotherapy against protozoal neglected diseases.
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Siller A, Garcia BA, Kipp EJ, Lee M, Tyring S. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Recreational Cave Diver After Travel to México. Cureus 2021; 13:e16896. [PMID: 34513469 PMCID: PMC8417566 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis due to Leishmania mexicana is a common cause of New World protozoal infections endemic to southern Mexico and now the United States (US). We present a case of a 72-year-old male who became infected with cutaneous L. mexicana while participating in numerous diving excursions in the flooded limestone caves, commonly referred to as cenotes, in the Yucatán Peninsula. This unique case of adventure tourism highlights cave diving in endemic regions of leishmaniasis as a possible new risk factor for the acquisition of this disease. We also discuss increasing autochthonous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis and the different barriers to treatment that occur with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Evan J Kipp
- Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, USA
| | - Michael Lee
- Dermatology, MedDerm Associates Inc, San Diego, USA
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Monteiro MJDSD, da Silva MNP, Paiva ADA, Marreiro DDN, Luzia LA, Henriques GS, Rondó PHDC, Sene IDS, de Almeida ATA, Costa CHN, Costa DL. Nutritional status and vitamin A and zinc levels in patients with kala-azar in Piauí, Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2021; 54:e08002020. [PMID: 34495261 PMCID: PMC8437443 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0800-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malnutrition and kala-azar (or visceral leishmaniasis) are significant public health problems in different parts of the world. Immunity and susceptibility to infectious and parasitic diseases are directly linked to the host's nutritional state, but little is known about the interaction between nutrition and kala-azar. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional status with kala-azar and correlate these findings with the clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease, and zinc and retinol levels. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 139 patients with kala-azar. Nutritional status classification was performed according to international recommendations. Parametric or nonparametric tests were applied whenever indicated in a two-sided test with a 5% significance level. RESULTS Weight loss and malnutrition were more frequent in adults. Body mass index-for-age, fat area of the arm, and upper arm muscle area were significantly associated with probability of death. The presence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly was correlated with nutritional assessment. Blood leukocyte and lymphocyte, serum creatine, and vitamin A levels were significantly higher in adult men. Vitamin A levels were highly associated with the level of hemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) in multivariate analysis. All patients had reduced plasma zinc levels, but this finding had no association with the outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS Malnutrition was correlated with severe disease and was more prevalent in older people with kala-azar. Vitamin A deficiency was associated with hemoglobin and CRP. Zinc levels were reduced in patients with kala-azar.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Nauside Pessoa da Silva
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia, Teresina, PI, Brasil
| | | | | | - Liania Alves Luzia
- Universidade de São Paulo, Laboratório de Micronutrientes, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Gilberto Simeone Henriques
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Laboratório Experimental de Nutrição, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Ingridi de Souza Sene
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Laboratório de Pesquisas em Leishmanioses, Teresina, PI, Brasil
- Laboratório de Anatomia Patológica e Biologia Molecular, Teresina, PI, Brasil
| | | | - Carlos Henrique Nery Costa
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Laboratório de Pesquisas em Leishmanioses, Teresina, PI, Brasil
- Centro de Inteligência para Agravos Tropicais Emergentes e Negligenciados, Teresina, PI, Brasil
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento de Medicina Comunitária, Teresina, PI, Brasil
| | - Dorcas Lamounier Costa
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Laboratório de Pesquisas em Leishmanioses, Teresina, PI, Brasil
- Centro de Inteligência para Agravos Tropicais Emergentes e Negligenciados, Teresina, PI, Brasil
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento Materno-Infantil, Teresina, PI, Brasil
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50
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Jagadesh S, Combe M, Ginouvès M, Simon S, Prévot G, Couppié P, Nacher M, Gozlan RE. Spatial variations in Leishmaniasis: A biogeographic approach to mapping the distribution of Leishmania species. One Health 2021; 13:100307. [PMID: 34430698 PMCID: PMC8368019 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is the most prevalent form of Leishmaniasis and is widely endemic in the Americas. Several species of Leishmania are responsible for CL, a severely neglected tropical disease and the treatment of CL vary according to the different species of Leishmania. We proposed to map the distribution of the Leishmania species reported in French Guiana (FG) using a biogeographic approach based on environmental predictors. We also measured species endemism i.e., the uniqueness of species to a defined geographic location. Our results show that the distribution patterns varied between Leishmania spp. and were spatially dependent on climatic covariates. The species distribution modelling of the eco-epidemiological spatial patterns of Leishmania spp. is the first to measure endemism based on bioclimatic factors in FG. The study also emphasizes the impact of tree cover loss and climate on the increasing distribution of L. (Viannia) braziliensis in the most anthropized regions. Detection of high-risk regions for the different between Leishmania spp. is essential for monitoring and active surveillance of the vector. As climate plays a major role in the spatial distribution of the vector and reservoir and the survival of the pathogen, climatic covariates should be included in the analysis and mapping of vector-borne diseases. This study underscores the significance of local land management and the urgency of considering the impact of climate change in the development of vector-borne disease management strategies at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soushieta Jagadesh
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Corresponding author at: ISPM, University of Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Marine Combe
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Marine Ginouvès
- Equipe TBIP Tropical Biome and Immunophysiopathology, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana
- Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses - Laboratoire Associé, Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon, 97304 Cayenne Cedex, French Guiana
| | - Stéphane Simon
- Equipe TBIP Tropical Biome and Immunophysiopathology, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana
- Centre National de Référence des Leishmanioses - Laboratoire Associé, Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon, 97304 Cayenne Cedex, French Guiana
| | - Ghislaine Prévot
- Equipe TBIP Tropical Biome and Immunophysiopathology, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana
- Univ. de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017-CIIL Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Pierre Couppié
- Equipe TBIP Tropical Biome and Immunophysiopathology, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana
- Univ. de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017-CIIL Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
- Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon, 97304 Cayenne Cedex, French Guiana
| | - Mathieu Nacher
- Equipe TBIP Tropical Biome and Immunophysiopathology, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana
- Univ. de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017-CIIL Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
- Centre d'investigation Clinique (CIC Inserm 1424), Centre hospitalier Andrée Rosemon, 97304 Cayenne Cedex, French Guiana
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