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Zingales B, Macedo AM. Fifteen Years after the Definition of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs: What Have We Learned? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2339. [PMID: 38137940 PMCID: PMC10744745 DOI: 10.3390/life13122339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan causative of Chagas disease (ChD), exhibits striking genetic and phenotypic intraspecific diversity, along with ecoepidemiological complexity. Human-pathogen interactions lead to distinct clinical presentations of ChD. In 2009, an international consensus classified T. cruzi strains into six discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI to TcVI, later including TcBat, and proposed reproducible genotyping schemes for DTU identification. This article aims to review the impact of classifying T. cruzi strains into DTUs on our understanding of biological, ecoepidemiological, and pathogenic aspects of T. cruzi. We will explore the likely origin of DTUs and the intrinsic characteristics of each group of strains concerning genome organization, genomics, and susceptibility to drugs used in ChD treatment. We will also provide an overview of the association of DTUs with mammalian reservoirs, and summarize the geographic distribution, and the clinical implications, of prevalent specific DTUs in ChD patients. Throughout this review, we will emphasize the crucial roles of both parasite and human genetics in defining ChD pathogenesis and chemotherapy outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréa M. Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
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Muñoz-Calderón A, Ramírez JL, Díaz-Bello Z, Alarcón de Noya B, Noya O, Schijman AG. Genetic Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi I Populations from an Oral Chagas Disease Outbreak in Venezuela: Natural Resistance to Nitroheterocyclic Drugs. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:582-592. [PMID: 36780430 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The oral transmission of Chagas disease (oCD) in Venezuela announced its appearance in 2007. Different from other populations affected by oCD and despite close supervision during treatment with nitroheterocyclic drugs, the result was treatment failure. We studied genetic features of natural bloodstream parasite populations and populations after treatment of nine patients of this outbreak. In total, we studied six hemoculture isolates, eight Pre-Tx blood samples, and 17 samples collected at two or three Post-Tx time-points between 2007 and 2015. Parasitic loads were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and discrete typing units (DTU), minicircle signatures, and Tcntr-1 gene sequences were searched from blood samples and hemocultures. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were measured from the hemocultures. All patients were infected by TcI. Significant decrease in parasitic loads was observed between Pre-Tx and Post-Tx samples, suggesting the evolution from acute to chronic phase of Chagas disease. 60% of intra-DTU-I variability was observed between Pre-Tx and Post-Tx minicircle signatures in the general population, and 43 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in a total of 12 Tcntr-1 gene sequences, indicative of a polyclonal source of infection. SNPs in three post-Tx samples produced stop codons giving rise to putative truncated proteins or displaced open reading frames, which would render resistance genes. IC50 values varied from 5.301 ± 1.973 to 104.731 ± 4.556 μM, demonstrating a wide range of susceptibility. The poor drug response in the Pre-Tx parasite populations may be associated with the presence of naturally resistant parasite clones. Therefore, any information that can be obtained on drug susceptibility from in vitro assays, in vivo assays, or molecular characterization of natural populations of Trypanosoma cruzi becomes essential when therapeutic guidelines are designed in a given geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires CP1428ADN, Argentina
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Centro de Biotecnología, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas CP1080, Venezuela
| | - Zoraida Díaz-Bello
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Oscar Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela.,Centro de Estudios sobre Malaria, Instituto de Altos Estudios, Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires CP1428ADN, Argentina
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Téllez J, Romero I, Romanha AJ, Steindel M. Drug transporter and oxidative stress gene expression in human macrophages infected with benznidazole-sensitive and naturally benznidazole-resistant Trypanosoma cruzi parasites treated with benznidazole. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:262. [PMID: 31126349 PMCID: PMC6534881 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3485-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Current therapeutic management is limited to treatment with nitroheterocyclic drugs, such as nifurtimox (NFX) and benznidazole (BZ). Thus, the identification of affordable and readily available drugs to treat resistant parasites is urgently required worldwide. To analyse the effects of BZ on human macrophage gene expression, a quantitative PCR (qPCR) array analysis was performed using drug transporter and oxidative stress pathway genes to compare the gene expression profiles of human differentiated THP-1 macrophage (THP-1 MΦ) cells infected or not with benznidazole-sensitive (CL Brener) and naturally benznidazole-resistant (Colombiana) T. cruzi parasites followed by treatment with BZ. Results The gene expression analysis indicated that the expression levels of 62 genes were either up- or downregulated at least 3-fold in the host upon infection with CL Brener and BZ treatment, of which 46 were upregulated and 16 were downregulated. Moreover, the expression level of 32 genes was altered in THP-1 MФ cells infected with Colombiana and treated with BZ, of which 29 were upregulated and 3 were downregulated. Our results revealed that depending on the specific condition, human THP-1 MΦ cells infected with T. cruzi strains with sensitive or resistant phenotypes and treated with BZ expressed high mRNA levels of AQP1, AQP9 and ABCB1 (MDR1) compared to those of the control cells. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the proteins encoded by AQP1, AQP9 and ABCB1 may be implicated in benznidazole detoxification. Therefore, studies on gene expression are required to better understand the host response to pathogens and drug treatment integrated with functional and metabolic data to identify potentially novel targets for the treatment of this important and neglected tropical disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3485-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jair Téllez
- Laboratorio de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. .,Vicerrectoría de Investigaciones, Universidad Manuela Beltrán, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
| | - Ibeth Romero
- Laboratorio de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.,Programa de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Manuela Beltrán, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
| | - Alvaro José Romanha
- Laboratorio de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Mario Steindel
- Laboratorio de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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Müller Kratz J, Garcia Bournissen F, Forsyth CJ, Sosa-Estani S. Clinical and pharmacological profile of benznidazole for treatment of Chagas disease. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2018; 11:943-957. [DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2018.1509704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jadel Müller Kratz
- Chagas Clinical Program, Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Facundo Garcia Bournissen
- Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Colin J. Forsyth
- Chagas Clinical Program, Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Chagas Clinical Program, Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Center, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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González L, García-Huertas P, Triana-Chávez O, García GA, Murta SMF, Mejía-Jaramillo AM. Aldo-keto reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase contribute to benznidazole natural resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2017; 106:704-718. [PMID: 28884498 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The improvement of Chagas disease treatment is focused not only on the development of new drugs but also in understanding mechanisms of action and resistance to drugs conventionally used. Thus, some strategies aim to detect specific changes in proteins between sensitive and resistant parasites and to evaluate the role played in these processes by functional genomics. In this work, we used a natural Trypanosoma cruzi population resistant to benznidazole, which has clones with different susceptibilities to this drug without alterations in the NTR I gene. Using 2DE-gel electrophoresis, the aldo-keto reductase and the alcohol dehydrogenase proteins were found up regulated in the natural resistant clone and therefore their possible role in the resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal was investigated. Both genes were overexpressed in a drug sensitive T. cruzi clone and the biological changes in response to these compounds were evaluated. The results showed that the overexpression of these proteins enhances resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal in T. cruzi. Moreover, a decrease in mitochondrial and cell membrane damage was observed, accompanied by a drop in the intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species after treatment. Our results suggest that these proteins are involved in the mechanism of action of benznidazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura González
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Paola García-Huertas
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Omar Triana-Chávez
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Gabriela Andrea García
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben"- ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Ana M Mejía-Jaramillo
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
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García-Huertas P, Mejía-Jaramillo AM, González L, Triana-Chávez O. Transcriptome and Functional Genomics Reveal the Participation of Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase inTrypanosoma cruziResistance to Benznidazole. J Cell Biochem 2017; 118:1936-1945. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paola García-Huertas
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI; Universidad de Antioquia; UdeA Medellín Colombia
| | - Ana María Mejía-Jaramillo
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI; Universidad de Antioquia; UdeA Medellín Colombia
| | - Laura González
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI; Universidad de Antioquia; UdeA Medellín Colombia
| | - Omar Triana-Chávez
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI; Universidad de Antioquia; UdeA Medellín Colombia
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dos Santos PF, Moreira DS, Baba EH, Volpe CM, Ruiz JC, Romanha AJ, Murta SM. Molecular characterization of lipoamide dehydrogenase gene in Trypanosoma cruzi populations susceptible and resistant to benznidazole. Exp Parasitol 2016; 170:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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8
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Putative Role of the Aldo-Keto Reductase from Trypanosoma cruzi in Benznidazole Metabolism. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:2664-70. [PMID: 26856844 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02185-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Benznidazole (Bz), the drug used for treatment of Chagas' disease (caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi), is activated by a parasitic NADH-dependent type I nitroreductase (NTR I). However, several studies have shown that other enzymes are involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the aldo-keto reductase from T. cruzi (TcAKR), a NADPH-dependent oxido-reductase previously described by our group, uses Bz as the substrate. We demonstrated that both recombinant and native TcAKR enzymes reduce Bz by using NADPH, but not NADH, as a cofactor. TcAKR-overexpressing epimastigotes showed higher NADPH-dependent Bz reductase activity and a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for Bz 1.8-fold higher than that of the controls, suggesting that TcAKR is involved in Bz detoxification instead of activation. To understand the role of TcAKR in Bz metabolism, we studied TcAKR expression and NADPH/NADH-dependent Bz reductase activities in two T. cruzi strains with differential susceptibility to Bz: CL Brener and Nicaragua. Taking into account the results obtained with TcAKR-overexpressing epimastigotes, we expected the more resistant strain, Nicaragua, to have higher TcAKR levels than CL Brener. However, the results were the opposite. CL Brener showed 2-fold higher TcAKR expression and 5.7-fold higher NADPH-Bz reduction than the Nicaragua strain. In addition, NADH-dependent Bz reductase activity, characteristic of NTR I, was also higher in CL Brener than in Nicaragua. We conclude that although TcAKR uses Bz as the substrate, TcAKR activity is not a determinant of Bz resistance in wild-type strains and may be overcome by other enzymes involved in Bz activation, such as NADPH- and NADH-dependent reductases.
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Molecular characterization of Cyclophilin (TcCyP19) in Trypanosoma cruzi populations susceptible and resistant to benznidazole. Exp Parasitol 2014; 148:73-80. [PMID: 25450774 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cyclophilin (CyP), a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, is a key molecule with diverse biological functions that include roles in molecular chaperoning, stress response, immune modulation, and signal transduction. In this respect, CyP could serve as a potential drug target in disease-causing parasites. Previous studies employing proteomics techniques have shown that the TcCyP19 isoform was more abundant in a benznidazole (BZ)-resistant Trypanosoma cruzi population than in its susceptible counterpart. In this study, TcCyP19 has been characterized in BZ-susceptible and BZ-resistant T. cruzi populations. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a clear dichotomy between Cyphophilin A (CyPA) sequences from trypanosomatids and mammals. Sequencing analysis revealed that the amino acid sequences of TcCyP19 were identical among the T. cruzi samples analyzed. Southern blot analysis showed that TcCyP19 is a single-copy gene, located in chromosomal bands varying in size from 0.68 to 2.2 Mb, depending on the strain of T. cruzi. Northern blot and qPCR indicated that the levels of TcCyP19 mRNA were twofold higher in drug-resistant T. cruzi populations than in their drug-susceptible counterparts. Similarly, as determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis immunoblot, the expression of TcCyP19 protein was increased to the same degree in BZ-resistant T. cruzi populations. No differences in TcCyP19 mRNA and protein expression levels were observed between the susceptible and the naturally resistant T. cruzi strains analyzed. Taken together, these data indicate that cyclophilin TcCyP19 expression is up-regulated at both transcriptional and translational levels in T. cruzi populations that were in vitro-induced and in vivo-selected for resistance to BZ.
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Campos MCO, Castro-Pinto DB, Ribeiro GA, Berredo-Pinho MM, Gomes LHF, da Silva Bellieny MS, Goulart CM, Echevarria A, Leon LL. P-glycoprotein efflux pump plays an important role in Trypanosoma cruzi drug resistance. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:2341-51. [PMID: 23572046 PMCID: PMC3663987 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3398-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Drug resistance in protozoan parasites has been associated with the P-glycoprotein (Pgp), an energy-dependent efflux pump that transports substances across the membrane. Interestingly, the genes TcPGP1 and TcPGP2 have been described in Trypanosoma cruzi, although the function of these genes has not been fully elucidated. The main goal of this work was to investigate Pgp efflux pump activity and expression in T. cruzi lines submitted to in vitro induced resistance to the compounds 4-N-(2-methoxy styryl)-thiosemicarbazone (2-Meotio) and benznidazole (Bz) and to verify the stability of the resistant phenotypes during the parasite life cycle. We observed that the EC50 values for the treatment of epimastigotes with 2-Meotio or Bz were increased at least 4.7-fold in resistant lines, and this phenotype was maintained in metacyclic trypomastigotes, cell-derived trypomastigotes, and intracellular amastigotes. However, in epimastigotes, 2-Meotio resistance is reversible, but Bz resistance is irreversible. When compared with the parental line, the resistant lines exhibited higher Pgp efflux activity, reversion of the resistant phenotypes in the presence of Pgp inhibitors, cross-resistance with Pgp modulators, higher basal Pgp ATPase activity, and overexpression of the genes TcPGP1 and TcPGP2. In conclusion, the resistance induced in T. cruzi by the compounds 2-Meotio and Bz is maintained during the entire parasite life cycle. Furthermore, our data suggest the participation of the Pgp efflux pump in T. cruzi drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mônica Caroline Oliveira Campos
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Martínez I, Nogueda B, Martínez-Hernández F, Espinoza B. Microsatellite and mini-exon analysis of Mexican human DTU I Trypanosoma cruzi strains and their susceptibility to nifurtimox and benznidazole. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013; 13:181-7. [PMID: 23421890 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and it affects as many as 10 million people in North and South America, where it represents a major public health problem. T. cruzi is a parasite with high genetic diversity, and it has been grouped into 6 discrete typing units (DTUs), designated as T. cruzi I (TcI) to T. cruzi VI (TcVI). Mexican isolates from humans and from vector insects have been primarily found to be TcI, and these isolates are likely to be the strains that cause the clinical manifestations observed in Mexico. However, genetic characterization and drug susceptibility assays are limited in Mexican TcI strains. In this work, 24 Mexican T. cruzi strains, obtained primarily from humans, were studied with 7 locus microsatellites and mini-exon gene by PCR. Also, drug susceptibility was evaluated by growth and mobility assays. All of the human strains belonged to TcI, and they could be further grouped through microsatellite analysis into 2 subgroups (microsatellite genotypes 1 and 2), which were not related to the host clinical status or biological origin of the strain. Two strains, both from wild mammals, belonged to the TcII-TcVI groups; these strains and the CL Brener strain constituted microsatellite genotype 3. The number of alleles in each locus was lower than reported for South American strains, and a departure from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. The susceptibility of these strains to nifurtimox and benznidazole was heterogeneous. T. cruzi strains characterized as microsatellite genotypes 2 and 3 were significantly more susceptible to benznidazole than strains of microsatellite genotype 1. Only 1 Mexican strain resistant to both drugs was found in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Martínez
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
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12
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Pérez-Molina JA, Norman F, López-Vélez R. Chagas disease in non-endemic countries: epidemiology, clinical presentation and treatment. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2012; 14:263-74. [PMID: 22477037 DOI: 10.1007/s11908-012-0259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Imported Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) is increasingly recognized as an emerging problem in the USA and Europe due to immigration from Latin America. Most migrants from endemic countries will have been infected during childhood. Based on the natural history of the disease, up to 35 % of those infected may develop cardiac and/or gastrointestinal manifestations during the third or fourth decade of life. This disease was described more than 100 years ago, yet many challenges still remain such as the identification of risk factors for visceral involvement, effective treatment for chronic cases, and reliable markers of cure following treatment. Transmission of the infection may occur even in non-endemic areas through non-vectorial routes and many countries are therefore currently facing the challenge of this emerging public health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Pérez-Molina
- Tropical Medicine, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Km 9,1, 28034, Madrid, Spain,
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13
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dos Santos PF, Ruiz JC, Soares RPP, Moreira DS, Rezende AM, Folador EL, Oliveira G, Romanha AJ, Murta SMF. Molecular characterization of the hexose transporter gene in benznidazole resistant and susceptible populations of Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:161. [PMID: 22871258 PMCID: PMC3431256 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2012] [Accepted: 08/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hexose transporters (HT) are membrane proteins involved in the uptake of energy-supplying glucose and other hexoses into the cell. Previous studies employing the Differential Display technique have shown that the transcription level of the HT gene from T. cruzi (TcrHT) is higher in an in vitro-induced benznidazole (BZ)-resistant population of the parasite (17 LER) than in its susceptible counterpart (17 WTS). METHODS In the present study, TcrHT has been characterized in populations and strains of T. cruzi that are resistant or susceptible to BZ. We investigated the copy number and chromosomal location of the gene, the levels of TcrHT mRNA and of TcrHT activity, and the phylogenetic relationship between TcrHT and HTs from other organisms. RESULTS In silico analyses revealed that 15 sequences of the TcrHT gene are present in the T. cruzi genome, considering both CL Brener haplotypes. Southern blot analyses confirmed that the gene is present as a multicopy tandem array and indicated a nucleotide sequence polymorphism associated to T. cruzi group I or II. Karyotype analyses revealed that TcrHT is located in two chromosomal bands varying in size from 1.85 to 2.6 Mb depending on the strain of T. cruzi. The sequence of amino acids in the HT from T. cruzi is closely related to the HT sequences of Leishmania species according to phylogenetic analysis. Northern blot and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that TcrHT transcripts are 2.6-fold higher in the resistant 17 LER population than in the susceptible 17 WTS. Interestingly, the hexose transporter activity was 40% lower in the 17 LER population than in all other T. cruzi samples analyzed. This phenotype was detected only in the in vitro-induced BZ resistant population, but not in the in vivo-selected or naturally BZ resistant T. cruzi samples. Sequencing analysis revealed that the amino acid sequences of the TcrHT from 17WTS and 17LER populations are identical. This result suggests that the difference in glucose transport between 17WTS and 17LER populations is not due to point mutations, but probably due to lower protein expression level. CONCLUSION The BZ resistant population 17 LER presents a decrease in glucose uptake in response to drug pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula F dos Santos
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
| | - Jerônimo C Ruiz
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo P P Soares
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
| | - Douglas S Moreira
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
| | - Antônio M Rezende
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
| | - Edson L Folador
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
- Centro de Excelência em Bioinformática, FIOCRUZ, Rua Araguari 741, Belo Horizonte, 30190-110, MG, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-910, MG, Brazil
| | - Alvaro J Romanha
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
| | - Silvane MF Murta
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, 30190-002, MG, Brazil
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14
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Aquilino C, Gonzalez Rubio ML, Seco EM, Escudero L, Corvo L, Soto M, Fresno M, Malpartida F, Bonay P. Differential trypanocidal activity of novel macrolide antibiotics; correlation to genetic lineage. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40901. [PMID: 22859958 PMCID: PMC3409201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report the systematic study of the anti-trypanocidal activity of some new products derived from S. diastatus on 14 different T. cruzi strains spanning the six genetic lineages of T. cruzi. As the traditional growth inhibition curves giving similar IC(50) showed great differences on antibiotic and lineage tested, we decided to preserve the wealth of information derived from each inhibition curve and used an algorithm related to potency of the drugs, combined in a matrix data set used to generate a cluster tree. The cluster thus generated based just on drug susceptibility data closely resembles the phylogenies of the lineages derived from genetic data and provides a novel approach to correlate genetic data with phenotypes related to pathogenesis of Chagas disease. Furthermore we provide clues on the drugs mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Aquilino
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Luisa Gonzalez Rubio
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Maria Seco
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leticia Escudero
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Corvo
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Soto
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Fresno
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pedro Bonay
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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15
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Mejia AM, Hall BS, Taylor MC, Gómez-Palacio A, Wilkinson SR, Triana-Chávez O, Kelly JM. Benznidazole-resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi is a readily acquired trait that can arise independently in a single population. J Infect Dis 2012; 206:220-8. [PMID: 22551809 PMCID: PMC3379838 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2011] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Benznidazole is the frontline drug used against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. However, treatment failures are often reported. Here, we demonstrate that independently acquired mutations in the gene encoding a mitochondrial nitroreductase (TcNTR) can give rise to distinct drug-resistant clones within a single population. Following selection of benznidazole-resistant parasites, all clones examined had lost one of the chromosomes containing the TcNTR gene. Sequence analysis of the remaining TcNTR allele revealed 3 distinct mutant genes in different resistant clones. Expression studies showed that these mutant proteins were unable to activate benznidazole. This correlated with loss of flavin mononucleotide binding. The drug-resistant phenotype could be reversed by transfection with wild-type TcNTR. These results identify TcNTR as a central player in acquired resistance to benznidazole. They also demonstrate that T. cruzi has a propensity to undergo genetic changes that can lead to drug resistance, a finding that has implications for future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Mejia
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Belinda S. Hall
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin C. Taylor
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
| | | | - Shane R. Wilkinson
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, United Kingdom
| | | | - John M. Kelly
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
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16
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Sensibilidad al benzonidazol de cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi sugiere la circulación de cepas naturalmente resistentes en Colombia. BIOMEDICA 2012. [DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.v32i2.458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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17
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Pérez-Molina JA, Rodríguez-Guardado A, Soriano A, Pinazo MJ, Carrilero B, García-Rodríguez M, Salas J, Torrús D, Soler-Ferrer C, Puente S, Haro-González JL, Martín-Rabadán P, Gascon J. Guidelines on the treatment of chronic coinfection by Trypanosoma cruzi and HIV outside endemic areas. HIV CLINICAL TRIALS 2012; 12:287-98. [PMID: 22189148 DOI: 10.1310/hct1206-287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
As a result of population migration, Chagas disease is no longer limited to the North and South American continents. In HIV-infected patients, chronic infection by Trypanosoma cruzi behaves as an opportunistic infection in severely immunosuppressed patients and is responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Unlike other opportunistic infections, information on the natural history, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Chagas disease is scarce. Spain has the highest number of cases of Chagas disease outside the North and South American continents, and coinfection with HIV is increasingly prevalent. In this article, the Spanish Society for Tropical Medicine and International Health (Sociedad Española de Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional) reviews the current situation of coinfection with HIV and T. cruzi infection and provides guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in areas where Chagas disease is not endemic. It also identifies areas of uncertainty where additional research is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Pérez-Molina
- Medicina Tropical, Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
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18
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Zalloum L, Lala ERP, Moreira NM, Silveira TGV, Dalálio MMDO, Toledo MJDO, Gomes ML, Araújo SMD. Induction of phagocytic activity and nitric-oxide production in natural populations of Trypanosoma cruzi I and II from the state of Paraná, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2011; 53:247-53. [PMID: 22012449 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652011000500002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Twelve strains of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from wild reservoirs, triatomines, and chronic chagasic patients in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, and classified as T. cruzi I and II, were used to test the correlation between genetic and biological diversity. The Phagocytic Index (PI) and nitric-oxide (NO) production in vitro were used as biological parameters. The PI of the T. cruzi I and II strains did not differ significantly, nor did the PI of the T. cruzi strains isolated from humans, triatomines, or wild reservoirs. There was a statistical difference in the inhibition of NO production between T. cruzi I and II and between parasites isolated from humans and the strains isolated from triatomines and wild reservoirs, but there was no correlation between genetics and biology when the strains were analyzed independently of the lineages or hosts from which the strains were isolated. There were significant correlations for Randomly Amplified Polymorphic Deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD) and biological parameters for T. cruzi I and II, and for humans or wild reservoirs when the lineages or hosts were considered individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Zalloum
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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19
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Mejía-Jaramillo AM, Fernández GJ, Palacio L, Triana-Chávez O. Gene expression study using real-time PCR identifies an NTR gene as a major marker of resistance to benzonidazole in Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:169. [PMID: 21892937 PMCID: PMC3185274 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/05/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a neglected illness, with limited treatments, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Two drugs are prescribed to treat the disease, nifurtimox and benznidazole, which have been previously reported to have limited efficacy and the appearance of resistance by T. cruzi. Acquisition of drug-resistant phenotypes is a complex physiological process based on single or multiple changes of the genes involved, probably in its mechanisms of action. Results The differential genes expression of a sensitive Trypanosoma cruzi strain and its induced in vitro benznidazole-resistant phenotypes was studied. The stepwise increasing concentration of BZ in the parental strain generated five different resistant populations assessed by the IC50 ranging from 10.49 to 93.7 μM. The resistant populations maintained their phenotype when the BZ was depleted from the culture for many passages. Additionally, the benznidazole-resistant phenotypes presented a cross-resistance to nifurtimox but not to G418 sulfate. On the other hand, four of the five phenotypes resistant to different concentrations of drugs had different expression levels for the 12 genes evaluated by real-time PCR. However, in the most resistant phenotype (TcR5x), the levels of mRNA from these 12 genes and seven more were similar to the parental strain but not for NTR and OYE genes, which were down-regulated and over-expressed, respectively. The number of copies for these two genes was evaluated for the parental strain and the TcR5x phenotype, revealing that the NTR gene had lost a copy in this last phenotype. No changes were found in the enzyme activity of CPR and SOD in the most resistant population. Finally, there was no variability of genetic profiles among all the parasite populations evaluated by performing low-stringency single-specific primer PCR (LSSP-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA RAPD techniques, indicating that no clonal selection or drastic genetic changes had occurred for the exposure to BZ. Conclusion Here, we propose NTR as the major marker of the appearance of resistance to BZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Mejía-Jaramillo
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI-SIU, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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20
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Moreno M, D'ávila DA, Silva MN, Galvão LM, Macedo AM, Chiari E, Gontijo ED, Zingales B. Trypanosoma cruzi benznidazole susceptibility in vitro does not predict the therapeutic outcome of human Chagas disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 105:918-24. [PMID: 21120364 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762010000700014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Accepted: 08/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic failure of benznidazole (BZ) is widely documented in Chagas disease and has been primarily associated with variations in the drug susceptibility of Trypanosoma cruzi strains. In humans, therapeutic success has been assessed by the negativation of anti-T. cruzi antibodies, a process that may take up to 10 years. A protocol for early screening of the drug resistance of infective strains would be valuable for orienting physicians towards alternative therapies, with a combination of existing drugs or new anti-T. cruzi agents. We developed a procedure that couples the isolation of parasites by haemoculture with quantification of BZ susceptibility in the resultant epimastigote forms. BZ activity was standardized with reference strains, which showed IC₅₀ to BZ between 7.6-32 µM. The assay was then applied to isolates from seven chronic patients prior to administration of BZ therapy. The IC₅₀ of the strains varied from 15.6 ± 3-51.4 ± 1 µM. Comparison of BZ susceptibility of the pre-treatment isolates of patients considered cured by several criteria and of non-cured patients indicates that the assay does not predict therapeutic outcome. A two-fold increase in BZ resistance in the post-treatment isolates of two patients was verified. Based on the profile of nine microsatellite loci, sub-population selection in non-cured patients was ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margoth Moreno
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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21
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Lala ER, Andó MH, Zalloum L, Bértoli M, de Oliveira Machado Dalalio M, Silveira TGV, Gomes ML, Guedes TA, de Araújo SM. Trypanosoma cruzi: Different methods of data analysis to evaluate the genetics–biology relationship. Exp Parasitol 2009; 123:173-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2008] [Revised: 06/23/2009] [Accepted: 06/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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22
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Fernández MC, González Cappa SM, Solana ME. Trypanosoma cruzi: Immunological predictors of benznidazole efficacy during experimental infection. Exp Parasitol 2009; 124:172-80. [PMID: 19747482 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2009] [Revised: 08/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/03/2009] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
C3H/HeN male mice were infected with a lethal population of Trypanosoma cruzi and treated with benznidazole (Bz). Parasitemia, body weight and survival rate were registered during the therapy with significant improvement for T. cruzi-infected Bz-treated animals. Besides, flow cytometry resulted a useful method to discriminate between cured animals from those not cured by monitoring IgG(1) bound to live trypomastigotes levels. At the end of Bz therapy, the LT splenocyte compartment was studied for activation/memory cell surface markers (CD(69)(+) and CD(44)(+)). Cytofluorometric analysis showed that T. cruzi-infected untreated mice increased their activated LT numbers and this effect was completely abolished only in cured mice at the end of Bz administration. The same behavior was observed for the memory LT subpopulation correlating to an effector memory (CD(62L)(-)) displayed by T. cruzi infection. Bz treatment was able to modulate the immunological response by reducing the deleterious effect of the acute phase in all T. cruzi-infected mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- María C Fernández
- Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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23
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Cossy Isasi S, Rodríguez M, Pereira B, Díaz-luján C, Fretes R, Haüen D. Trypanosoma cruzi: Altered parasites after in vitro treatment with gangliosides, a therapeutic agent in experimental Chagas’ disease. Exp Parasitol 2009; 122:218-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2008] [Revised: 02/10/2009] [Accepted: 03/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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24
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Campos FM, Liarte DB, Mortara RA, Romanha AJ, Murta SM. Characterization of a gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase in benznidazole-susceptible and -resistant populations of Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2009; 111:56-63. [PMID: 19426664 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2008] [Revised: 01/29/2009] [Accepted: 02/23/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) are a class of oxidoreductases that catalyse the reversible oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. In the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi the TcADH gene was identified through microarray analysis as having reduced transcription in an in vitro induced benznidazole (BZ)-resistant population. In the present study, we have extended these results by characterizing the TcADH gene from 11 strains of T. cruzi that were either susceptible or naturally resistant to benznidazole and nifurtimox or had in vivo selected or in vitro induced resistance to BZ. Sequence comparisons showed that TcADH was more similar to prokaryotic ADHs than to orthologs identified Leishmania spp. Immunolocalisation using confocal microscopy revealed that TcADH is present in the kinetoplast region and along the parasite body, consistent with the mitochondrial localization predicted by sequence analysis. Northern blots showed a 1.9kb transcript with similar signal intensity in all T. cruzi samples analysed, except for the in vitro selected resistant population, where transcript levels were 2-fold lower. These findings were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. In Western blot analysis, anti-TcADH polyclonal antisera recognised a 42kDa protein in all T. cruzi strains tested. The level of expression of this polypeptide was approximately 2-fold lower in the in vitro induced benznidazole-resistant strain, than in the susceptible parental strain. The chromosomal location of the TcADH gene was variable, but was not associated with the zymodeme or with the drug resistance phenotype. The data presented here show that the TcADH enzyme has a decreased level of expression in the in vitro induced BZ-resistant T. cruzi population, a situation that has not been observed in the in vivo selected BZ-resistant and naturally resistant strains.
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25
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Trypanosoma cruzi: Induction of benznidazole resistance in vivo and its modulation by in vitro culturing and mice infection. Exp Parasitol 2008; 120:385-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2008.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2007] [Revised: 08/14/2008] [Accepted: 09/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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26
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Murta SMF, Nogueira FB, Dos Santos PF, Campos FMF, Volpe C, Liarte DB, Nirdé P, Probst CM, Krieger MA, Goldenberg S, Romanha AJ. Differential gene expression in Trypanosoma cruzi populations susceptible and resistant to benznidazole. Acta Trop 2008; 107:59-65. [PMID: 18501872 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2008] [Revised: 03/19/2008] [Accepted: 04/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Differential gene expression in three pairs of Trypanosoma cruzi populations or clones susceptible or resistant to benznidazole (BZ) was investigated by differential display (DD) and representation of differential expression (RDE). GenBank searches of 14 genes selected by DD showed that four sequences corresponded to different hypothetical proteins and the others were very similar to T. cruzi genes encoding mucin (TcMUC), dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (TcLipDH), the hexose transporter (TcHT), or a ribosomal protein. Sequence analysis was performed on 34 clones obtained by RDE; approximately half of these clones encoded 14 different hypothetical proteins and the other half encoded proteins involved with stress response, antioxidant defence, metabolism, transporter proteins, surface proteins, ribosomal proteins and others. The mRNA levels of eight T. cruzi genes obtained by RDE and DD were analysed by northern blotting to confirm the differential expression of these sequences. For six of the eight genes, TcLipDH, TcHT, TcFeSOD-A (iron superoxide dismutase-A), TcHSP70, TcHSP100 (heat shock protein) and Tc52 (thiol-transferase), mRNA levels in the drug-resistant T. cruzi population were at least twice those in the susceptible population. Further analysis of TcHSP70 showed that although the levels of TcHSP70 mRNA were four-fold higher in T. cruzi BZ-resistant population, no corresponding increase was observed in the levels of TcHSP70 protein expression. The results suggest that TcHSP70 is not directly associated with the T. cruzi drug resistance phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvane M F Murta
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Caixa Postal 1743, CEP 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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27
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Andrade HM, Murta SMF, Chapeaurouge A, Perales J, Nirdé P, Romanha AJ. Proteomic Analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi Resistance to Benznidazole. J Proteome Res 2008; 7:2357-67. [DOI: 10.1021/pr700659m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hélida M. Andrade
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, Universidade Federal do Paiuí, Lab Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, Laboratório de Toxinologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacodinâmica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, and INSERM U540, 60 rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Silvane M. F. Murta
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, Universidade Federal do Paiuí, Lab Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, Laboratório de Toxinologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacodinâmica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, and INSERM U540, 60 rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Alex Chapeaurouge
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, Universidade Federal do Paiuí, Lab Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, Laboratório de Toxinologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacodinâmica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, and INSERM U540, 60 rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Jonas Perales
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, Universidade Federal do Paiuí, Lab Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, Laboratório de Toxinologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacodinâmica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, and INSERM U540, 60 rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Phillipe Nirdé
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, Universidade Federal do Paiuí, Lab Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, Laboratório de Toxinologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacodinâmica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, and INSERM U540, 60 rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Alvaro J. Romanha
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisa René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, Universidade Federal do Paiuí, Lab Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, Laboratório de Toxinologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacodinâmica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Brazil, and INSERM U540, 60 rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France
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28
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Caldas S, Santos FM, de Lana M, Diniz LF, Machado-Coelho GLL, Veloso VM, Bahia MT. Trypanosoma cruzi: acute and long-term infection in the vertebrate host can modify the response to benznidazole. Exp Parasitol 2007; 118:315-23. [PMID: 17945216 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2007] [Revised: 06/27/2007] [Accepted: 08/29/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the influence of Trypanosoma cruzi maintenance in different hosts (dog and mouse) on its susceptibility to benznidazole treatment. Five T. cruzi stocks were isolated from dogs inoculated with Be-62 or Be-78 strain (both sensitive to benznidazole) 2-10 years ago, and the benznidazole sensitivity was then determined using the mouse as experimental model. The different T. cruzi stocks obtained from long-term infected dogs showed 50-90% drug resistance right after isolation. However, maintenance of these T. cruzi stocks in mice, by successive blood passages (2.5 years), led to either a decrease or stability of the drug resistance pattern and an increase in parasite virulence. We also demonstrated the effectiveness of the induction of parasitemia reactivation by cyclophosphamide immunosuppression in the evaluation of the response to the specific drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Caldas
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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29
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Nogueira FB, Krieger MA, Nirdé P, Goldenberg S, Romanha AJ, Murta SMF. Increased expression of iron-containing superoxide dismutase-A (TcFeSOD-A) enzyme in Trypanosoma cruzi population with in vitro-induced resistance to benznidazole. Acta Trop 2006; 100:119-32. [PMID: 17113553 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2006.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2006] [Revised: 09/28/2006] [Accepted: 10/04/2006] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) removes excess superoxide radicals via dismutation to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. In this work, we have characterized TcFeSOD-A gene from 25 Trypanosoma cruzi populations and clones susceptible, naturally resistant or with in vitro-induced (17 LER) or in vivo-selected resistance to benznidazole (BZR). In the 17 LER T. cruzi population, the levels of TcFeSOD-A mRNA were at least 3-fold higher than its drug-susceptible counterpart 17 WTS. The levels of TcFeSOD-A mRNA were similar among the other T. cruzi populations and clones regardless of the drug-resistance phenotype. We determined whether the increase in mRNA levels was due to gene amplification using Southern blot analysis of the T. cruzi populations and clones. We found that the number of TcFeSOD-A gene copies was similar for all samples tested, except for 17 LER that presented twice as many copies. The chromosomal location of the TcFeSOD-A gene and polymorphisms detected in nucleotide and amino acid sequences of TcFeSOD-A were associated with the zymodeme of the T. cruzi strain but not with drug-resistance phenotype. We observed a 23 kDa TcFeSOD-A polypeptide in all analysed T. cruzi strains. The level of this polypeptide was increased only in the 17 LER population. Specific enzyme activity analysis of TcFeSOD in the T. cruzi samples revealed a correlation between expression and activity. Our findings show an increased expression of the TcFeSOD-A enzyme in the T. cruzi population with in vitro-induced resistance to benznidazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda B Nogueira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Av Augusto de Lima 1715, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Murta SMF, Krieger MA, Montenegro LR, Campos FFM, Probst CM, Avila AR, Muto NH, de Oliveira RC, Nunes LR, Nirdé P, Bruna-Romero O, Goldenberg S, Romanha AJ. Deletion of copies of the gene encoding old yellow enzyme (TcOYE), a NAD(P)H flavin oxidoreductase, associates with in vitro-induced benznidazole resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 146:151-62. [PMID: 16442642 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2005.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2005] [Revised: 07/27/2005] [Accepted: 12/06/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Old yellow enzyme (OYE) is a NAD(P)H flavin oxidoreductase that in Trypanosoma cruzi (TcOYE) catalyzes prostaglandin PGF2alpha synthesis and reduction of some trypanocidal drugs. We performed DNA microarray analysis and it revealed that the levels of transcription of the TcOYE gene were six-fold lower in a T. cruzi population with in vitro-induced resistance to benznidazole (BZ) (17LER) than in the wild-type (17WTS). Further we investigated the TcOYE levels in 15 T. cruzi strains and clones that were either susceptible or naturally resistant to BZ and nifurtimox, or had in vivo-selected resistance to BZ. Northern blot and real-time RT-PCR analyses confirmed our finding that TcOYE transcription levels were lower in 17LER than in 17WTS. In contrast, we detected no differences in TcOYE transcription levels between other T. cruzi samples. All T. cruzi strains contained four copies of TcOYE gene, except 17LER that contained only one. A 42kDa TcOYE protein was detected in all T. cruzi strains tested. The expression of this protein was similar for all samples, with the exception of 17LER for which the protein was nearly seven-fold less expressed. The chromosomal location of the TcOYE gene and the polymorphisms detected in TcOYE nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the T. cruzi strains are associated with the zymodeme but not with drug-resistance phenotype. Our data show that one of the mechanisms conferring in vitro-induced BZ resistance to T. cruzi correlates with deletion of copies of the TcOYE gene. In contrast, the in vivo and natural resistance to BZ are mediated by different mechanisms.
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