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Aboelsoued D, Toaleb NI, Ibrahim S, Shaapan RM, Megeed KNA. A Cryptosporidium parvum vaccine candidate effect on immunohistochemical profiling of CD4 +, CD8 +, Caspase-3 and NF-κB in mice. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:216. [PMID: 37858196 PMCID: PMC10585919 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03699-w] [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: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary importance that causes neonatal diarrhea in many vertebrate hosts. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of an affinity-purified antigen as a C. parvum vaccine candidate using ileal and liver tissues of experimentally infected neonatal mice by immunohistochemical profiling and immune scoring of CD4+, CD8+, Caspase-3, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). This vaccine was prepared from the C. parvum oocysts antigen using immune affinity chromatography with cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose-4B beads. METHODS Thirty neonatal mice were divided into three groups (10 mice/group): (1) non-immunized non-infected, (2) non-immunized infected (using gastric tubes with a single dose of 1 × 105 of C. parvum oocysts in 250 µl PBS solution 1 h before a meal) and (3) immunized (twice with 40 µg/kg of purified C. parvum antigen at 2-week intervals and then infected with 1 × 105 C. parvum oocysts simultaneously with the second group). After euthanizing the animals on the 10th day, post-infection, their ileal and liver tissues were collected and prepared for immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to detect CD4+, CD8+, Caspase-3, and NF-κB levels, which are indicators for T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells, apoptosis, and inflammation, respectively. RESULTS The IHC results showed that CD4+, CD8+, Caspase-3, and NF-κB expression varied significantly (P < 0.001) in both organs in all the groups. We also recorded high CD4+ levels and low CD8+ expression in the non-immunized non-infected mice tissues, while the opposite was observed in the non-immunized infected mice tissues. In the immunized infected mice, the CD4+ level was higher than CD8 + in both organs. While the Caspase-3 levels were higher in the ileal tissue of non-immunized infected than immunized infected mice ileal tissues, the reverse was seen in the liver tissues of both groups. Furthermore, NF-κB expression was higher in the liver tissues of non-immunized infected mice than in immunized infected mice tissues. Therefore, the IHC results and immune-scoring program revealed a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the CD4+, CD8+, Caspase-3, and NF-κB expression levels in both ileal and liver tissues of all mice groups, which might be necessary for immunomodulation in these tissues. CONCLUSIONS The improvement observed in the immunized infected mice suggests that this vaccine candidate might protect against cryptosporidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Aboelsoued
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nagwa I Toaleb
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sally Ibrahim
- Department of Animal Reproduction and AI, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Raafat M Shaapan
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, P.O. 12622, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Kadria N Abdel Megeed
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
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Tůmová L, Ježková J, Prediger J, Holubová N, Sak B, Konečný R, Květoňová D, Hlásková L, Rost M, McEvoy J, Xiao L, Santín M, Kváč M. Cryptosporidium mortiferum n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae), the species causing lethal cryptosporidiosis in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:235. [PMID: 37454101 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05844-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptosporidium spp. are globally distributed parasites that infect epithelial cells in the microvillus border of the gastrointestinal tract of all classes of vertebrates. Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I is a common parasite in North American tree squirrels. It was introduced into Europe with eastern gray squirrels and poses an infection risk to native European squirrel species, for which infection is fatal. In this study, the biology and genetic variability of different isolates of chipmunk genotype I were investigated. METHODS The genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I was analyzed by PCR/sequencing of the SSU rRNA, actin, HSP70, COWP, TRAP-C1 and gp60 genes. The biology of chipmunk genotype I, including oocyst size, localization of the life cycle stages and pathology, was examined by light and electron microscopy and histology. Infectivity to Eurasian red squirrels and eastern gray squirrels was verified experimentally. RESULTS Phylogenic analyses at studied genes revealed that chipmunk genotype I is genetically distinct from other Cryptosporidium spp. No detectable infection occurred in chickens and guinea pigs experimentally inoculated with chipmunk genotype I, while in laboratory mice, ferrets, gerbils, Eurasian red squirrels and eastern gray squirrels, oocyst shedding began between 4 and 11 days post infection. While infection in mice, gerbils, ferrets and eastern gray squirrels was asymptomatic or had mild clinical signs, Eurasian red squirrels developed severe cryptosporidiosis that resulted in host death. The rapid onset of clinical signs characterized by severe diarrhea, apathy, loss of appetite and subsequent death of the individual may explain the sporadic occurrence of this Cryptosporidium in field studies and its concurrent spread in the population of native European squirrels. Oocysts obtained from a naturally infected human, the original inoculum, were 5.64 × 5.37 μm and did not differ in size from oocysts obtained from experimentally infected hosts. Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I infection was localized exclusively in the cecum and anterior part of the colon. CONCLUSIONS Based on these differences in genetics, host specificity and pathogenicity, we propose the name Cryptosporidium mortiferum n. sp. for this parasite previously known as Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Tůmová
- Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 1668, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Ježková
- Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 1668, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Prediger
- Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 1668, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Holubová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Konečný
- Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 1668, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Květoňová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Hlásková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Rost
- Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 1668, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - John McEvoy
- Microbiological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, 1523 Centennial Blvd, Van Es Hall, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
| | - Monica Santín
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Martin Kváč
- Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 1668, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Structural Analyses of a Dominant Cryptosporidium parvum Epitope Presented by H-2K b Offer New Options To Combat Cryptosporidiosis. mBio 2023; 14:e0266622. [PMID: 36602309 PMCID: PMC9973275 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02666-22] [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: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum has gained much attention as a major cause of diarrhea in the world, particularly in those with compromised immune systems. The data currently available on how the immune system recognizes C. parvum are growing rapidly, but we lack data on the interactions among host major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity and parasitic T-cell epitopes. To identify antigenic epitopes in a murine model, we performed systematic profiling of H-2Kb-restricted peptides by screening the dominant Cryptosporidium antigens. The results revealed that the glycoprotein-derived epitope Gp40/15-SVF9 induced an immunodominant response in C. parvum-recovered C57BL/6 mice, and injection of the cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) peptide with the adjuvant activated peptide-specific CD8+ T cells. Notably, the SVF9 epitope was highly conserved across Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum, and many other Cryptosporidium species. SVF9 also formed stable peptide-MHC class I (MHC I) complexes with HLA-A*0201, suggesting cross-reactivity between H-2Kb and human MHC I specificities. Crystal structure analyses revealed that the interactions of peptide-MHC surface residues of H-2Kb and HLA-A*0201 are highly conserved. The hydrogen bonds of H-2Kb-SVF9 are similar to those of a dominant epitope presented by HLA-A*0201, which can be recognized by a public human T-cell receptor (TCR). Notably, we found double conformations in position 4 (P4), 5 (P5) of the SVF9 peptide, which showed high flexibility, and multiple peptide conformations generated more molecular surfaces that can potentially be recognized by TCRs. Our findings demonstrate that an immunodominant C. parvum epitope and its homologs from different Cryptosporidium species and subtypes can benefit vaccine development to combat cryptosporidiosis. IMPORTANCE Adaptive immune responses and T lymphocytes have been implicated as important mechanisms of parasite-induced protection. However, the role of CD8+ T lymphocytes in the resolution of C. parvum infection is largely unresolved. Our results revealed that the glycoprotein-derived epitope Gp40/15-SVF9 induced an immunodominant CD8+ T-cell response in C57BL/6 mice. Crystal structure analyses revealed that the interactions of the H-2Kb-SVF9 peptide are similar to those of a dominant epitope presented by HLA-A*0201, which can be recognized by human TCRs. In addition, we found double conformations of the SVF9 peptide, which showed high flexibility and multiple peptide conformations that can potentially be recognized by TCRs.
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Dhal AK, Panda C, Yun SIL, Mahapatra RK. An update on Cryptosporidium biology and therapeutic avenues. J Parasit Dis 2022; 46:923-939. [PMID: 35755159 PMCID: PMC9215156 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01510-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium species has been identified as an important pediatric diarrheal pathogen in resource-limited countries, particularly in very young children (0–24 months). However, the only available drug (nitazoxanide) has limited efficacy and can only be prescribed in a medical setting to children older than one year. Many drug development projects have started to investigate new therapeutic avenues. Cryptosporidium’s unique biology is challenging for the traditional drug discovery pipeline and requires novel drug screening approaches. Notably, in recent years, new methods of oocyst generation, in vitro processing, and continuous three-dimensional cultivation capacities have been developed. This has enabled more physiologically pertinent research assays for inhibitor discovery. In a short time, many great strides have been made in the development of anti-Cryptosporidium drugs. These are expected to eventually turn into clinical candidates for cryptosporidiosis treatment in the future. This review describes the latest development in Cryptosporidium biology, genomics, transcriptomics of the parasite, assay development, and new drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajit Kumar Dhal
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024 India
| | - Chinmaya Panda
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024 India
| | - Soon-IL Yun
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896 Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896 Republic of Korea
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Valigurova A, Peckova R, Dolezal K, Sak B, Kvetonova D, Kvac M, Nurcahyo W, Foitova I. Limitations in the screening of potentially anti-cryptosporidial agents using laboratory rodents with gastric cryptosporidiosis. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2018; 65. [PMID: 30152784 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2018.010] [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: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of cryptosporidiosis, a zoonotic disease of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract caused by Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1907, triggered numerous screening studies of various compounds for potential anti-cryptosporidial activity, the majority of which proved ineffective. Extracts of Indonesian plants, Piper betle and Diospyros sumatrana, were tested for potential anti-cryptosporidial activity using Mastomys coucha (Smith), experimentally inoculated with Cryptosporidium proliferans Kváč, Havrdová, Hlásková, Daňková, Kanděra, Ježková, Vítovec, Sak, Ortega, Xiao, Modrý, Chelladurai, Prantlová et McEvoy, 2016. None of the plant extracts tested showed significant activity against cryptosporidia; however, the results indicate that the following issues should be addressed in similar experimental studies. The monitoring of oocyst shedding during the entire experimental trial, supplemented with histological examination of affected gastric tissue at the time of treatment termination, revealed that similar studies are generally unreliable if evaluations of drug efficacy are based exclusively on oocyst shedding. Moreover, the reduction of oocyst shedding did not guarantee the eradication of cryptosporidia in treated individuals. For treatment trials performed on experimentally inoculated laboratory rodents, only animals in the advanced phase of cryptosporidiosis should be used for the correct interpretation of pathological alterations observed in affected tissue. All the solvents used (methanol, methanol-tetrahydrofuran and dimethylsulfoxid) were shown to be suitable for these studies, i.e. they did not exhibit negative effects on the subjects. The halofuginone lactate, routinely administered in intestinal cryptosporidiosis in calves, was shown to be ineffective against gastric cryptosporidiosis in mice caused by C. proliferans. In contrast, the control application of extract Arabidopsis thaliana, from which we had expected a neutral effect, turned out to have some positive impact on affected gastric tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Valigurova
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Peckova
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Dolezal
- Department of Chemical Biology and Genetics & Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, and Institute of Experimental Botany, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Olomouc-Holice, Czech Republic
| | - Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Kvetonova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kvac
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Animal Husbandry Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Wisnu Nurcahyo
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ivona Foitova
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Bartelt LA, Bolick DT, Kolling GL, Roche JK, Zaenker EI, Lara AM, Noronha FJ, Cowardin CA, Moore JH, Turner JR, Warren CA, Buck GA, Guerrant RL. Cryptosporidium Priming Is More Effective than Vaccine for Protection against Cryptosporidiosis in a Murine Protein Malnutrition Model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004820. [PMID: 27467505 PMCID: PMC4965189 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a major cause of severe diarrhea, especially in malnourished children. Using a murine model of C. parvum oocyst challenge that recapitulates clinical features of severe cryptosporidiosis during malnutrition, we interrogated the effect of protein malnutrition (PM) on primary and secondary responses to C. parvum challenge, and tested the differential ability of mucosal priming strategies to overcome the PM-induced susceptibility. We determined that while PM fundamentally alters systemic and mucosal primary immune responses to Cryptosporidium, priming with C. parvum (106 oocysts) provides robust protective immunity against re-challenge despite ongoing PM. C. parvum priming restores mucosal Th1-type effectors (CD3+CD8+CD103+ T-cells) and cytokines (IFNγ, and IL12p40) that otherwise decrease with ongoing PM. Vaccination strategies with Cryptosporidium antigens expressed in the S. Typhi vector 908htr, however, do not enhance Th1-type responses to C. parvum challenge during PM, even though vaccination strongly boosts immunity in challenged fully nourished hosts. Remote non-specific exposures to the attenuated S. Typhi vector alone or the TLR9 agonist CpG ODN-1668 can partially attenuate C. parvum severity during PM, but neither as effectively as viable C. parvum priming. We conclude that although PM interferes with basal and vaccine-boosted immune responses to C. parvum, sustained reductions in disease severity are possible through mucosal activators of host defenses, and specifically C. parvum priming can elicit impressively robust Th1-type protective immunity despite ongoing protein malnutrition. These findings add insight into potential correlates of Cryptosporidium immunity and future vaccine strategies in malnourished children. Cryptosporidium attributable morbidities in malnourished children are increasingly recognized. Exactly how malnutrition interferes with host mucosal immunity to diarrheal pathogens and mucosal vaccine responses remains unclear. Dissecting these interactions in an experimental model of cryptosporidiosis can uncover new insights into novel therapeutic approaches against a pathogen for which effective therapies and vaccines are currently unavailable. We demonstrate that although malnutrition diminishes baseline (primary) Th1-type mucosal immunity these deficits can be partially overcome via non-specific mucosal strategies (S. Typhi and CpG) and completely restored after a sub-clinical (low-dose) exposure to viable C. parvum. These results add insight into preventive strategies to help alleviate Cryptosporidium-specific diarrhea in children in low-resource settings and abrogate prolonged post-infection sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luther A. Bartelt
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - David T. Bolick
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Glynis L. Kolling
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - James K. Roche
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Edna I. Zaenker
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ana M. Lara
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Francisco Jose Noronha
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Carrie A. Cowardin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - John H. Moore
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jerrold R. Turner
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine—Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Cirle A. Warren
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Gregory A. Buck
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Richard L. Guerrant
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Global Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
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Kváč M, Havrdová N, Hlásková L, Daňková T, Kanděra J, Ježková J, Vítovec J, Sak B, Ortega Y, Xiao L, Modrý D, Chelladurai JRJJ, Prantlová V, McEvoy J. Cryptosporidium proliferans n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae): Molecular and Biological Evidence of Cryptic Species within Gastric Cryptosporidium of Mammals. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147090. [PMID: 26771460 PMCID: PMC4714919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphological, biological, and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium muris strain TS03 are described, and the species name Cryptosporidium proliferans n. sp. is proposed. Cryptosporidium proliferans obtained from a naturally infected East African mole rat (Tachyoryctes splendens) in Kenya was propagated under laboratory conditions in rodents (SCID mice and southern multimammate mice, Mastomys coucha) and used in experiments to examine oocyst morphology and transmission. DNA from the propagated C. proliferans isolate, and C. proliferans DNA isolated from the feces of an African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in Central African Republic, a donkey (Equus africanus) in Algeria, and a domestic horse (Equus caballus) in the Czech Republic were used for phylogenetic analyses. Oocysts of C. proliferans are morphologically distinguishable from C. parvum and C. muris HZ206, measuring 6.8–8.8 (mean = 7.7 μm) × 4.8–6.2 μm (mean = 5.3) with a length to width ratio of 1.48 (n = 100). Experimental studies using an isolate originated from T. splendens have shown that the course of C. proliferans infection in rodent hosts differs from that of C. muris and C. andersoni. The prepatent period of 18–21 days post infection (DPI) for C. proliferans in southern multimammate mice (Mastomys coucha) was similar to that of C. andersoni and longer than the 6–8 DPI prepatent period for C. muris RN66 and HZ206 in the same host. Histopatologicaly, stomach glands of southern multimammate mice infected with C. proliferans were markedly dilated and filled with necrotic material, mucus, and numerous Cryptosporidium developmental stages. Epithelial cells of infected glands were atrophic, exhibited cuboidal or squamous metaplasia, and significantly proliferated into the lumen of the stomach, forming papillary structures. The epithelial height and stomach weight were six-fold greater than in non-infected controls. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit rRNA, Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein, thrombospondin-related adhesive protein of Cryptosporidium-1, heat shock protein 70, actin, heat shock protein 90 (MS2), MS1, MS3, and M16 gene sequences revealed that C. proliferans is genetically distinct from C. muris and other previously described Cryptosporidium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kváč
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Nikola Havrdová
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Hlásková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Daňková
- Grammar School and High School of Economics, Vimperk, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Kanděra
- Grammar School and High School of Economics, Vimperk, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Ježková
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Vítovec
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ynes Ortega
- Center for Food Safety, Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - David Modrý
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- CEITEC VFU, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Veronika Prantlová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - John McEvoy
- Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, United States of America
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8
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Ludington JG, Ward HD. Systemic and Mucosal Immune Responses to Cryptosporidium-Vaccine Development. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2015; 2:171-180. [PMID: 26279971 PMCID: PMC4535728 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-015-0054-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp is a major cause of diarrheal disease worldwide, particularly in malnourished children and untreated AIDS patients in developing countries in whom it can cause severe, chronic and debilitating disease. Unfortunately, there is no consistently effective drug for these vulnerable populations and no vaccine, partly due to a limited understanding of both the parasite and the host immune response. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of the systemic and mucosal immune responses to Cryptosporidium infection, discuss the feasibility of developing a Cryptosporidium vaccine and evaluate recent advances in Cryptosporidium vaccine development strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G. Ludington
- Tufts University Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center
| | - Honorine D. Ward
- Tufts University Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center
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9
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Life cycle ofCryptosporidium murisin two rodents with different responses to parasitization. Parasitology 2013; 141:287-303. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013001637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYThis study focuses on mapping the life cycle ofCryptosporidium murisin two laboratory rodents; BALB/c mice and the southern multimammate ratMastomys coucha, differing in their prepatent and patent periods. Both rodents were simultaneously experimentally inoculated with viable oocysts ofC. muris(strain TS03). Animals were dissected and screened for the presence of the parasite using a combined morphological approach and nested PCR (SSU rRNA) at different times after inoculation. The occurrence of first developmental stages ofC. murisin stomach was detected at 2·5 days post-infection (dpi). The presence of Type II merogony, appearing 36 h later than Type I merogony, was confirmed in both rodents. Oocysts exhibiting different size and thickness of their wall were observed from 5 dpi onwards in stomachs of both host models. The early phase of parasitization in BALB/c mice progressed rapidly, with a prepatent period of 7·5–10 days; whereas inM. coucha, the developmental stages ofC. muriswere first observed 12 h later in comparison with BALB/c mice and prepatent period was longer (18–21 days). Similarly, the patent periods of BALB/c mice andM. couchadiffered considerably, i.e. 10–15 daysvschronic infection throughout the life of the host, respectively.
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