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Uribe-Querol E, Rosales C. Neutrophils versus Protozoan Parasites: Plasmodium, Trichomonas, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Entameoba. Microorganisms 2024; 12:827. [PMID: 38674770 PMCID: PMC11051968 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040827] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant polymorphonuclear granular leukocytes in human blood and are an essential part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are efficient cells that eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi, but their role in dealing with protozoan parasitic infections remains controversial. At sites of protozoan parasite infections, a large number of infiltrating neutrophils is observed, suggesting that neutrophils are important cells for controlling the infection. Yet, in most cases, there is also a strong inflammatory response that can provoke tissue damage. Diseases like malaria, trichomoniasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and amoebiasis affect millions of people globally. In this review, we summarize these protozoan diseases and describe the novel view on how neutrophils are involved in protection from these parasites. Also, we present recent evidence that neutrophils play a double role in these infections participating both in control of the parasite and in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Uribe-Querol
- Laboratorio de Biología del Desarrollo, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Carlos Rosales
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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Saccol CP, Cervi VF, Blume JC, Menezes ÁG, Apel MA, da Rosa LS, Tasca T, Cruz L. Xanthan-carrageenan film containing sesame seed oil: A nanocomposite pharmaceutical platform for trichomoniasis treatment. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128701. [PMID: 38072348 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection that poses significant complications for women. Challenges in treatment include adverse effects and resistance to standard antimicrobial agents. Given this context, a sesame seed oil nanoemulsion (SONE) was developed and showed anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity. To facilitate the local application of SONE, a polysaccharide film was developed using xanthan gum (XG) and κ-carrageenan gum (CG). A blend of XG and CG (at 2 %, ratio 1:3) plasticized with glycerol produced a more promising film (XCF) than using the gums individually. The film containing SONE (SONE-XCF) was successfully obtained by replacing the aqueous solvent with SONE via solvent evaporation technique. The hydrophilic SONE-XCF exhibited homogeneity and suitable mechanical properties for vaginal application. Furthermore, SONE-XCF demonstrated mucoadhesive properties and high absorption capacity for excessive vaginal fluids produced in vaginitis. It also had a disintegration time of over 8 h, indicating long retention at the intended site of action. Hemolysis and chorioallantoic membrane tests confirmed the safety of the film. Therefore, SONE-XCF is a biocompatible film with a natural composition and inherent activity against T. vaginalis, possessing exceptional characteristics that make it appropriate for vaginal application, offering an interesting alternative for trichomoniasis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Parcianello Saccol
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Verônica Ferrari Cervi
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Júlia Carine Blume
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Ágata Giuseppe Menezes
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Tricomonas, GPTrico, Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre CEP 90610-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Miriam Anders Apel
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre CEP 90610-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Lucas Saldanha da Rosa
- Núcleo de Desenvolvimento de Materiais Avançados, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Odontológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiana Tasca
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Tricomonas, GPTrico, Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre CEP 90610-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Letícia Cruz
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil.
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Chen Q, Li J, Wang Z, Meng W, Wang H, Wang Z. A fluorescence-based assay for Trichomonas vaginalis drug screening. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:329. [PMID: 37723582 PMCID: PMC10507874 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05919-6] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence and spread of drug resistance in Trichomonas vaginalis parasites has become an important concern in trichomoniasis treatment. Fast and reliable growth assessment is critical for validating in vitro drug susceptibility and high-throughput screening of newly developed drugs. METHODS Modified media without yeast extract were evaluated for their ability to support the growth of T. vaginalis parasites. The potential of the nucleic acid-binding dye SYBR Green I for detecting T. vaginalis drug resistance was characterized, and seeding parasite concentration and incubation time were optimized. The fluorescence assay based on SYBR Green I was further validated in four T. vaginalis isolates with different susceptibilities to the antibiotics metronidazole, tinidazole, ornidazole and secnidazole, and compared with the traditional method that detects minimum lethal concentrations (MLCs). RESULTS A modified medium consisting of RPMI 1640 and Tryptone Plus as replacements for yeast extract and tryptone, respectively, in traditional trypticase-yeast extract-maltose (TYM) medium exhibited similar performance as TYM medium in maintaining T. vaginalis growth, while it showed much lower background fluorescent signals. The T. vaginalis SYBR Green I-based fluorescence (TSF) drug assay was found to have to satisfy one of two conditions to demonstrate the 50% inhibitory concentration of metronidazole for the sensitive isolate TV-334: (i) a seeding density of 3 × 104 parasites/ml and an incubation time of 48 h; or (ii) a seeding density of 1 × 104 parasites/ml and an incubation time of 72 h. Subsequent validation experiments revealed that the 48-h incubation/3 × 104 parasites/ml seeding density condition had a greater sensitivity to detect drug resistance than the 72-h condition. The TSF assay also exhibited high efficiency in identifying parasite drug resistance, as evidenced by its strong correlation with the standard MLC assay results (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS This study presents a robust TSF assay that has the potential to facilitate high-throughput, automated in vitro anti-trichomoniasis susceptibility testing for drug resistance monitoring and drug development. In comparison to the standard MLC method, this assay offers the advantages of reduced labor and elimination of subjective examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingzhong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Echinococcosis, Prevention and Control, Tibet Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 21# Linkuo North Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa, 850000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhensheng Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Meng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Zenglei Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, People's Republic of China.
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Bongiorni Galego G, Tasca T. Infinity war: Trichomonas vaginalis and interactions with host immune response. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2023; 10:103-116. [PMID: 37125086 PMCID: PMC10140678 DOI: 10.15698/mic2023.05.796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is the pathological agent of human trichomoniasis. The incidence is 156 million cases worldwide. Due to the increasing resistance of isolates to approved drugs and clinical complications that include increased risk in the acquisition and transmission of HIV, cervical and prostate cancer, and adverse outcomes during pregnancy, increasing our understanding of the pathogen's interaction with the host immune response is essential. Production of cytokines and cells of innate immunity: Neutrophils and macrophages are the main cells involved in the fight against the parasite, while IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α are the most produced cytokines in response to this infection. Clinical complications: T. vaginalis increases the acquisition of HIV, stimulates the invasiveness and growth of prostate cells, and generates an inflammatory environment that may lead to preterm birth. Endosymbiosis: Mycoplasma hominis increased cytotoxicity, growth, and survival rate of the parasite. Purinergic signaling: NTPD-ases and ecto-5'-nucleotidase helps in parasite survival by modulating the nucleotides levels in the microenvironment. Antibodies: IgG was detected in serum samples of rodents infected with isolates from symptomatic patients as well as patients with symptoms. However, antibody production does not protect against a reinfection. Vaccine candidate targets: The transient receptor potential- like channel of T. vaginalis (TvTRPV), cysteine peptidase, and α-actinin are currently cited as candidate targets for vaccine development. In this context, the understanding of mechanisms involved in the host-T. vaginalis interaction that elicit the immune response may contribute to the development of new targets to combat trichomoniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bongiorni Galego
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Tricomonas, Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, 90610-000, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Tiana Tasca
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Tricomonas, Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, 90610-000, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- * Corresponding Author: Tiana Tasca, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752. 90610-000. Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Tel: +555133085325;
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Abstract
Trichomoniasis is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. It has been associated with a variety of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes for both men and women. In this review, the authors discuss updates in its epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical significance, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Oxidative damage by 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione and its silver and copper complexes lead to apoptotic-like death in Trichomonas vaginalis. Res Microbiol 2022; 174:104015. [PMID: 36566772 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2022.104015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Trichomoniasis is a neglected, parasitic, sexually transmitted infection. Resistance to the only approved drugs is increasing worldwide, leaving millions of people without alternative medications. Thus, the search for new therapeutic options against this infection is necessary. Previously, our group reported that 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) and its silver(I) and copper(II) complexes (abbreviated as Ag-phendione and Cu-phendione, respectively) presented activity against the amitochondriate parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, with Cu-phendione being the most effective (IC50 = 0.84 μM). Methods: qRT-PCR, SEM, flow cytometry. The current study on the effects of Cu-phendione on the antioxidant metabolism of T. vaginalis by qRT-PCR revealed that the complex causes a decrease in the relative expression of mRNA of NADH oxidase, flavin reductase, superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxin, iron-sulfur flavoprotein, rubrerythrin and osmotically inducible proteins. In contrast, the mRNA expression of flavodiiron protein was increased. Detoxification-related enzymes were downregulated, impairing oxygen metabolism in trophozoites and triggering a subsequent accumulation of the superoxide anion. Although no DNA fragmentation was observed, the treatment of parasites with Cu-phendione led to a significant reduction in cell size and a concomitant increase in granularity. The complex promoted phosphatidylserine exposure at the plasma membrane (as judged by Annexin V binding) and propidium iodide was unable to passively permeate the parasites. All of these outcomes are classical hallmarks of cell death by apoptosis. In essence, the trichomonacidal effect of Cu-phendione operates through redox homeostasis imbalance, which is a mode of action that is quite distinct from that caused by metronidazole.
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