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Mirabedini Z, Mirjalali H, Kazemirad E, Khamesipour A, Samimirad K, Koosha M, Saberi R, Rahimi HM, Mohebali M, Hajjaran H. The effects of Leishmania RNA virus 2 (LRV2) on the virulence factors of L. major and pro-inflammatory biomarkers: an in vitro study on human monocyte cell line (THP-1). BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:398. [PMID: 38097942 PMCID: PMC10720061 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03140-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease with diverse outcomes. Clinical diversity is influenced by various factors such as Leishmania species and host genetic background. The role of Leishmania RNA virus (LRV), as an endosymbiont, is suggested to not only affect the pathogenesis of Leishmania, but also impact host immune responses. This study aimed to investigate the influence of LRV2 on the expression of a number of virulence factors (VFs) of Leishmania and pro-inflammatory biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sample were obtained from CL patients from Golestan province. Leishmania species were identified by PCR (LIN 4, 17), and the presence of LRV2 was checked using the semi-nested PCR (RdRp gene). Human monocyte cell line (THP-1) was treated with three isolates of L. major with LRV2 and one isolate of L. major without LRV2. The treatments with four isolates were administered for the time points: zero, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after co-infection. The expression levels of Leishmania VFs genes including GP63, HSP83, and MPI, as well as pro-inflammatory biomarkers genes including NLRP3, IL18, and IL1β, were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS The expression of GP63, HSP83, and MPI revealed up-regulation in LRV2 + isolates compared to LRV2- isolates. The expression of the pro-inflammatory biomarkers including NLRP3, IL1β, and IL18 genes in LRV2- were higher than LRV2 + isolates. CONCLUSION This finding suggests that LRV2 + may have a probable effect on the Leishmania VFs and pro-inflammatory biomarkers in the human macrophage model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Mirabedini
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Kazemirad
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Katayoun Samimirad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Koosha
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Saberi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Disease Institute, Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran
| | - Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Homa Hajjaran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Santana MCDO, Chourabi K, Cantanhêde LM, Cupolillo E. Exploring Host-Specificity: Untangling the Relationship between Leishmania ( Viannia) Species and Its Endosymbiont Leishmania RNA Virus 1. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2295. [PMID: 37764139 PMCID: PMC10535429 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A relevant aspect in the epidemiology of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (TL) are the Leishmania parasites carrying a viral endosymbiont, Leishmania RNA Virus 1 (LRV1), a dsRNA virus. Leishmania parasites carrying LRV1 are prone to causing more severe TL symptoms, increasing the likelihood of unfavorable clinical outcomes. LRV1 has been observed in the cultured strains of five L. (Viannia) species, and host specificity was suggested when studying the LRV1 from L. braziliensis and L. guyanensis strains. The coevolution hypothesis of LRV1 and Leishmania was based on phylogenetic analyses, implying an association between LRV1 genotypes, Leishmania species, and their geographic origins. This study aimed to investigate LRV1 specificity relative to Leishmania (Viannia) species hosts by analyzing LRV1 from L. (Viannia) species. To this end, LRV1 was screened in L. (Viannia) species other than L. braziliensis or L. guyanensis, and it was detected in 11 out of 15 L. naiffi and two out of four L. shawi. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial LRV1 genomic sequencing supported the hypothesis of host specificity, as LRV1 clustered according to their respective Leishmania species' hosts. These findings underscore the importance of investigating Leishmania and LRV1 coevolution and its impact on Leishmania (Viannia) species dispersion and pathogenesis in the American Continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayara Cristhine de Oliveira Santana
- Leishmaniasis Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040360, Brazil; (M.C.d.O.S.); (L.M.C.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT EpiAmO, Porto Velho 76812100, Brazil
| | - Khaled Chourabi
- Leishmaniasis Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040360, Brazil; (M.C.d.O.S.); (L.M.C.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT EpiAmO, Porto Velho 76812100, Brazil
| | - Lilian Motta Cantanhêde
- Leishmaniasis Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040360, Brazil; (M.C.d.O.S.); (L.M.C.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT EpiAmO, Porto Velho 76812100, Brazil
| | - Elisa Cupolillo
- Leishmaniasis Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040360, Brazil; (M.C.d.O.S.); (L.M.C.)
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT EpiAmO, Porto Velho 76812100, Brazil
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Gonzalez K, De León SS, Pineda V, Samudio F, Capitan-Barrios Z, Suarez JA, Weeden A, Ortiz B, Rios M, Moreno B, Gundacker ND, Pascale JM, López-Vergès S, Sosa N, Saldaña A, Ábrego LE. Detection of Leishmania RNA Virus 1 in Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis Isolates, Panama. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:1250-1253. [PMID: 37209675 DOI: 10.3201/eid2906.220012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
We detected Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1) in 11 isolates of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis collected during 2014-2019 from patients from different geographic areas in Panama. The distribution suggested a spread of LRV1 in L. (V.) panamensis parasites. We found no association between LRV1 and an increase in clinical pathology.
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Rosales-Chilama M, Y. Oviedo M, K. Quintero Y, L. Fernández O, Gómez MA. Leishmania RNA Virus Is Not Detected in All Species of the Leishmania Viannia Subgenus: The Case of L. (V.) panamensis in Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:555-560. [PMID: 36716739 PMCID: PMC9978567 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2002] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The endosymbiotic Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1) has been associated with severity and clinical manifestations of American tegumentary leishmaniasis caused by species of the Leishmania (Viannia) subgenus. Between and within Leishmania species, and among endemic countries, the prevalence of LRV is highly variable. The LRV virus has not been detected in L. (V.) panamensis, the second-most prevalent species in Central America and Colombia. However, no systematic screening of LRV has been conducted in L. (V.) panamensis, and thus it is still controversial whether this virus is truly absent from the species. We sought to determine the prevalence of LRV1 in L. (V.) panamensis clinical strains isolated from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), from different geographic areas of Colombia. We analyzed 219 clinical strains; 78% were L. (V.) panamensis, 18% were L. (V.) braziliensis, and 4% were L. (V.) guyanensis. Screening for LRV1 was performed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The LRV1 was detected in 18% (7 of 40) of L. (V) braziliensis strains, and was not detected in any of the L. (V.) guyanensis or L. (V.) panamensis strains. The LRV1-positive L. (V). braziliensis strains came from the Amazon Basin. Of the seven LRV1-positive strains, two were isolated from patients with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and the remaining from patients with CL. Our results confirm the absence of LRV1 in L. (V.) panamensis in Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Rosales-Chilama
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas-CIDEIM, Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Monica Y. Oviedo
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas-CIDEIM, Cali, Colombia
| | - Yury K. Quintero
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas-CIDEIM, Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Olga L. Fernández
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas-CIDEIM, Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - María Adelaida Gómez
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas-CIDEIM, Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
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Rahmanipour M, Mohebali M, Koosha M, Kazemirad E, Yasami-Khiabani S, Mirjalali H, Hajjaran H. Effect of Leishmania RNA virus 2 on virulence factors and cytokines gene expression in a human macrophage infected with Leishmania major: A preliminary study. Exp Parasitol 2023; 246:108459. [PMID: 36596336 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most important infectious parasitic diseases in the world caused by the Leishmania parasite. In recent decades, the presence of a virus from the Totiviridae family has been proven in some Leishmania species. Although the existence of LRV2 in the Old world Leishmania species has been confirmed, almost no studies have been done to determine the potential impact of LRV2 on the immunopathogenicity of the Leishmania parasite. In this preliminary study, we measured the expression of target genes, including Glycoprotein 63 (gp63), Heat Shock Protein 70 (hsp70), Cysteine Protease b (cpb), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL8 and IL-12 in LRV2 positive Leishmania major strain (LRV2+L. major) and LRV2 negative L. major strain (LRV2-L. major). We exposed THP-1, a human leukemia monocytic cell line, to promastigotes of both strains. After the initial infection, RNA was extracted at different time points, and the relative gene expression was determined using a real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Findings showed that the presence of LRV2 in L. major was able to increase the expression of gp63, hsp70, and cpb genes; also, we observed lower levels of expression in cytokine genes of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12 in the presence of LRV2+, which are critical factors in the host's immune response against leishmaniasis. These changes could suggest that the presence of LRV2 in L. major parasite may change the outcome of the disease and increase the probability of Leishmania survival; nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Rahmanipour
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mona Koosha
- Department of Medical Entomology & Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Kazemirad
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Homa Hajjaran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Zoonoses Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
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Zabala-Peñafiel A, Fantinatti M, Dias-Lopes G, da Silva JL, Miranda LDFC, Lyra MR, Pimentel MIF, Conceição-Silva F, Alves CR. First report of Leishmania RNA virus 1 in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clinical isolates from Rio de Janeiro State - Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210107. [PMID: 36000673 PMCID: PMC9395166 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmania parasites carry a double-stranded RNA virus (Leishmania RNA virus - LRV) that has been divided in LRV1 and LRV2. OBJECTIVES Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clinical isolates were assessed in order to determine LRV presence. METHODS Two-round polymerase chain reaction (PCR and nested PCR) was performed to detect LRV1 or LRV2 in L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates (n = 12). FINDINGS LRV1 was detected in three clinical isolates which was phylogenetically related to other sequences reported from other American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) endemic areas of Brazil. Patients infected with L. (V.) braziliensis LRV-negative showed only cutaneous lesions while LRV-positive reported different manifestations. MAIN CONCLUSION Data presented here show for the first time that LRV1 is circulating in L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates from Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabel Zabala-Peñafiel
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Maria Fantinatti
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Geovane Dias-Lopes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Jéssica Leite da Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Luciana de Freitas Campos Miranda
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Rosandiski Lyra
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Maria Inês Fernandes Pimentel
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Fátima Conceição-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Hajjaran H, Ebadizadeh M, *Ataei-Pirkooh A, Mohebali M, Samimi-Rad K, Saberi R, Naddaf SR. Development of an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) Assay for the Detection of Leishmania RNA Virus 2 (LRV2) in Leishmania Parasites. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2022; 17:349-357. [PMID: 36466016 PMCID: PMC9682387 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v17i3.10625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detection of Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) in Old World Leishmania species and their possible role in the disease prognosis requires sensitive and specific methods, preferably independent of the viral genome. We aimed to develop an indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay to detect LRV in the Old World Leishmania parasites. METHODS Clinical samples were collected from 86 cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients in different endemic areas of CL in Iran, during 2017-2019. For antibody preparation, the viruses were obtained from sediment of an LRV-infected L. major culture-using freeze and thaw cycles followed by gradient cesium chloride centrifugation. The purified viruses were used to immunize a male 3-4 months rabbit. Various dilutions of the LRV-immunized rabbit's serum and a conjugated antibody were deployed to detect LRV in 48 isolates by IFA assay. RESULTS LRV virus was detected in four of the 48 CL cases using IFA method. Amplification of a partial fragment of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene from the isolates confirmed the IFA results. In phylogeny, the generated RdRp sequences from four isolates were grouped with the other Old World LRVs, but separate from L. aethiopica LRVs, which appeared as a highly supported distinct clade. CONCLUSION Further optimization of this approach to detect the LRV directly in lesion scrapings can make it a more reliable tool for field studies and disclosing the virus's possible role in disseminating and unusual clinical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Hajjaran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Ebadizadeh
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Angila *Ataei-Pirkooh
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Katayoun Samimi-Rad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Saberi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Moin-Vaziri V, Zare F, Seyyed Tabaei SJ, Saberi R, Hajjaran H. Successful Isolation of Leishmania RNA Virus (LRV) from Leishmania major in a Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Focus in Central Iran: An Update on Cases. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:1290-1298. [PMID: 35773567 PMCID: PMC9245859 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00575-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major vector-borne disease that affects people globally, including Iran. Different factors are associated with leishmaniasis pathogenicity; recently, a link of the possible relationship between Leishmania RNA Virus (LRV) and disease severity was proposed, especially in the New World leishmaniasis (NWL). This study was aimed to investigate the presence of LRV2 in Leishmania isolates in Aran o Bidgol, Isfahan province. Methods Samples were collected from 110 CL-suspected patients referred to the health center. In this study, we aimed to investigate CL cases (parasitologically and clinically), identify Leishmania species (by ITS1-PCR–RFLP), and finally detection of LRV2 (by RdRp-semi-nested PCR). Results Parasitological methods showed 60 positive cases, based on the HaeIII enzyme restriction profile, 59 cases were caused by L. major and 1 case by L. tropica. Our project is the first study on LRV2 isolation in Aran o Bidgol city and the LRV was successfully detected from a single L. major isolated in a women’s hand lesion. Using BLAST, 94.8–100% similarity was observed in the RdRp sequence of current LRV isolate with those available in GenBank from Iran or overseas. Conclusion L. major was the main cause of CL in Aran o Bidgol, although L. tropica is also present in a much lower proportion in the area. This is the first report on the presence of LRV2 in Aran o Bidgol and the fifth in Iran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahideh Moin-Vaziri
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Zare
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed Javad Seyyed Tabaei
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Saberi
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Homa Hajjaran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Mukkala AN, Kariyawasam R, Lau R, Valencia BM, Llanos-Cuentas A, Boggild AK. Elevated baseline expression of seven virulence factor RNA transcripts in visceralizing species of Leishmania: a preliminary quantitative PCR study. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2022; 9:20499361221102665. [PMID: 35663431 PMCID: PMC9158425 DOI: 10.1177/20499361221102665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that manifests as three major disease phenotypes: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral. In this preliminary study, we quantified virulence factor (VF) RNA transcript expression in Leishmania species, stratified by geographic origin and propensity for specific disease phenotypes. Methods: Cultured promastigotes of 19 Leishmania clinical and ATCC isolates were extracted for total cellular RNA, cDNA was reverse transcribed, and qPCR assays were performed to quantify VF RNA transcript expression for hsp23, hsp70, hsp83, hsp100, mpi, cpb, and gp63. Results: Comparison of visceralizing species (Leishmania donovani, Leishmania chagasi, and Leishmania infantum) versus non-visceralizing species [Leishmania (Viannia) spp., Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major, Leishmania mexicana, and Leishmania amazonensis] revealed a significantly greater pooled transcript expression for visceralizing species (p = 0.0032). Similarly, Old World species demonstrated significantly higher VF RNA transcript expression than New World species (p = 0.0015). On a per-gene basis, species with a propensity to visceralize ubiquitously expressed higher levels of gp63 (p = 0.005), cpb (p = 0.0032), mpi (p = 0.0032), hsp23 (p = 0.0039), hsp70 (p = 0.0032), hsp83 (p = 0.0032), and hsp100 (p = 0.0032). Conclusion: Here, we provide quantitative, preliminary evidence of elevated VF RNA transcript expression driven largely by the visceralizing causative species of Leishmania. This work highlights the extensive heterogeneity in pathogenicity mechanisms between Leishmania species, which may partly underpin the fatal progression of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruwandi Kariyawasam
- Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Alberta Precision Laboratories-Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab), Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Rachel Lau
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Braulio M. Valencia
- Viral Immunology Systems Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Andrea K. Boggild
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tropical Disease Unit, Toronto General Hospital, Room 13EN-218, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
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Medina J, Cruz-Saavedra L, Patiño LH, Muñoz M, Ramírez JD. Comparative analysis of the transcriptional responses of five Leishmania species to trivalent antimony. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:419. [PMID: 34419127 PMCID: PMC8380399 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04915-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by several species of Leishmania. The resistance phenotype of these parasites depends on the characteristics of each species, which contributes to increased therapeutic failures. Understanding the mechanism used by the parasite to survive under treatment pressure in order to identify potential common and specific therapeutic targets is essential for the control of leishmaniasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profiles and potential shared and specific resistance markers of the main Leishmania species of medical importance [subgenus L. (Leishmania): L. donovani, L. infantum and L. amazonensis; subgenus L. (Viannia): L. panamensis and L. braziliensis)] resistant and sensitive to trivalent stibogluconate (SbIII). METHODS We conducted comparative analysis of the transcriptomic profiles (only coding sequences) of lines with experimentally induced resistance to SbIII from biological replicates of five Leishmania species available in the databases of four articles based on ortholog attribution. Simultaneously, we carried out functional analysis of ontology and reconstruction of metabolic pathways of the resulting differentially expressed genes (DEGs). RESULTS Resistant lines for each species had differential responses in metabolic processes, compound binding, and membrane components concerning their sensitive counterpart. One hundred and thirty-nine metabolic pathways were found, with the three main pathways comprising cysteine and methionine metabolism, glycolysis, and the ribosome. Differentially expressed orthologous genes assigned to species-specific responses predominated, with 899 self-genes. No differentially expressed genes were found in common among the five species. Two common upregulated orthologous genes were found among four species (L. donovani, L. braziliensis, L. amazonensis, and L. panamensis) related to an RNA-binding protein and the NAD(P)H cytochrome-B5-oxidoreductase complex, associated with transcriptional control and de novo synthesis of linoleic acid, critical mechanisms in resistance to antimonials. CONCLUSION Herein, we identified potential species-specific genes related to resistance to SbIII. Therefore, we suggest that future studies consider a treatment scheme that is species-specific. Despite the limitations of our study, this is the first approach toward unraveling the pan-genus genetic mechanisms of resistance in leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Medina
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología- UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología- UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luz Helena Patiño
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología- UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología- UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología- UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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The Maze Pathway of Coevolution: A Critical Review over the Leishmania and Its Endosymbiotic History. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050657. [PMID: 33925663 PMCID: PMC8146029 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The description of the genus Leishmania as the causative agent of leishmaniasis occurred in the modern age. However, evolutionary studies suggest that the origin of Leishmania can be traced back to the Mesozoic era. Subsequently, during its evolutionary process, it achieved worldwide dispersion predating the breakup of the Gondwana supercontinent. It is assumed that this parasite evolved from monoxenic Trypanosomatidae. Phylogenetic studies locate dixenous Leishmania in a well-supported clade, in the recently named subfamily Leishmaniinae, which also includes monoxenous trypanosomatids. Virus-like particles have been reported in many species of this family. To date, several Leishmania species have been reported to be infected by Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) and Leishbunyavirus (LBV). Since the first descriptions of LRVs decades ago, differences in their genomic structures have been highlighted, leading to the designation of LRV1 in L. (Viannia) species and LRV2 in L. (Leishmania) species. There are strong indications that viruses that infect Leishmania spp. have the ability to enhance parasitic survival in humans as well as in experimental infections, through highly complex and specialized mechanisms. Phylogenetic analyses of these viruses have shown that their genomic differences correlate with the parasite species infected, suggesting a coevolutionary process. Herein, we will explore what has been described in the literature regarding the relationship between Leishmania and endosymbiotic Leishmania viruses and what is known about this association that could contribute to discussions about the worldwide dispersion of Leishmania.
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Barrow P, Dujardin JC, Fasel N, Greenwood AD, Osterrieder K, Lomonossoff G, Fiori PL, Atterbury R, Rossi M, Lalle M. Viruses of protozoan parasites and viral therapy: Is the time now right? Virol J 2020; 17:142. [PMID: 32993724 PMCID: PMC7522927 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01410-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by protozoan parasites burden the world with huge costs in terms of human and animal health. Most parasitic diseases caused by protozoans are neglected, particularly those associated with poverty and tropical countries, but the paucity of drug treatments and vaccines combined with increasing problems of drug resistance are becoming major concerns for their control and eradication. In this climate, the discovery/repurposing of new drugs and increasing effort in vaccine development should be supplemented with an exploration of new alternative/synergic treatment strategies. Viruses, either native or engineered, have been employed successfully as highly effective and selective therapeutic approaches to treat cancer (oncolytic viruses) and antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases (phage therapy). Increasing evidence is accumulating that many protozoan, but also helminth, parasites harbour a range of different classes of viruses that are mostly absent from humans. Although some of these viruses appear to have no effect on their parasite hosts, others either have a clear direct negative impact on the parasite or may, in fact, contribute to the virulence of parasites for humans. This review will focus mainly on the viruses identified in protozoan parasites that are of medical importance. Inspired and informed by the experience gained from the application of oncolytic virus- and phage-therapy, rationally-driven strategies to employ these viruses successfully against parasitic diseases will be presented and discussed in the light of the current knowledge of the virus biology and the complex interplay between the viruses, the parasite hosts and the human host. We also highlight knowledge gaps that should be addressed to advance the potential of virotherapy against parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Barrow
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - Jean Claude Dujardin
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat, 155, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Fasel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Ch. des Boveresses 155, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institut für Virologie, Robert Von Ostertag-Haus - Zentrum Fuer Infektionsmedizin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Osterrieder
- Institut für Virologie, Robert Von Ostertag-Haus - Zentrum Fuer Infektionsmedizin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - George Lomonossoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Pier Luigi Fiori
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Biomedice, Universita Degli Studi Di Sassari, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Robert Atterbury
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Matteo Rossi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Ch. des Boveresses 155, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Marco Lalle
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00186, Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite modern advances in molecular diagnostic tools and a better understanding of its complex pathophysiology, cutaneous leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, remains a major global health problem. Laboratory methods to inform prognosis and treatment are not widely available, the therapeutic options are limited and have significant adverse effects, and emergence of drug resistance is a further complication. New advances in the understanding of the role of Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) as a prognostic factor, speciation methods and antimicrobial resistance testing and their limitations will be discussed. RECENT FINDINGS LRV, an intracytoplasmic endosymbiont found mostly in Leishmania spp. associated with more severe disease, appears to play a role in modulating the host immune response and has been associated with treatment failure in some Viannia subgenus species. Proper speciation is an important guide to management. However, recent findings have demonstrated significant heterogeneity of results related to differences in genotyping methods. SUMMARY Recognition of the role of LRV in immune modulation and response to treatment along with more accessible tools for its detection to guide management at the bedside should allow a better individualized approach. Improving accessibility and standardization of speciation methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be major goals to improve cutaneous leishmaniasis management in the 21st century.
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Olivier M, Minguez-Menendez A, Fernandez-Prada C. Leishmania Viannia guyanensis. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:1018-1019. [PMID: 31292065 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Olivier
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
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Kazemirad E, Reisi Nafchi H, Latifi A, Raoofian R, Mohebali M, Hajjaran H. Comparison of Cysteine Protease B Gene Expression between Clinical Isolates of Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2019. [DOI: 10.29252/jommid.7.3.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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