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Couto-Silva CM, Nunes K, Venturini G, Araújo Castro e Silva M, Pereira LV, Comas D, Pereira A, Hünemeier T. Indigenous people from Amazon show genetic signatures of pathogen-driven selection. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eabo0234. [PMID: 36888716 PMCID: PMC9995071 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Ecological conditions in the Amazon rainforests are historically favorable for the transmission of numerous tropical diseases, especially vector-borne diseases. The high diversity of pathogens likely contributes to the strong selective pressures for human survival and reproduction in this region. However, the genetic basis of human adaptation to this complex ecosystem remains unclear. This study investigates the possible footprints of genetic adaptation to the Amazon rainforest environment by analyzing the genomic data of 19 native populations. The results based on genomic and functional analysis showed an intense signal of natural selection in a set of genes related to Trypanosoma cruzi infection, which is the pathogen responsible for Chagas disease, a neglected tropical parasitic disease native to the Americas that is currently spreading worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cainã M. Couto-Silva
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508090, Brazil
| | - Kelly Nunes
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508090, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Venturini
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Laboratório de Genética e Cardiologia Molecular, Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Araújo Castro e Silva
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508090, Brazil
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Lygia V. Pereira
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508090, Brazil
| | - David Comas
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Alexandre Pereira
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Laboratório de Genética e Cardiologia Molecular, Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Tábita Hünemeier
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508090, Brazil
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC/Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona 08003, Spain
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Manchola Varón NC, Dos Santos GRRM, Colli W, Alves MJM. Interaction With the Extracellular Matrix Triggers Calcium Signaling in Trypanosoma cruzi Prior to Cell Invasion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:731372. [PMID: 34671568 PMCID: PMC8521164 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.731372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease in humans, infects a wide variety of vertebrates. Trypomastigotes, the parasite infective forms, invade mammalian cells by a still poorly understood mechanism. Adhesion of tissue culture- derived trypomastigotes to the extracellular matrix (ECM) prior to cell invasion has been shown to be a relevant part of the process. Changes in phosphorylation, S-nitrosylation, and nitration levels of proteins, in the late phase of the interaction (2 h), leading to the reprogramming of both trypomastigotes metabolism and the DNA binding profile of modified histones, were described by our group. Here, the involvement of calcium signaling at a very early phase of parasite interaction with ECM is described. Increments in the intracellular calcium concentrations during trypomastigotes-ECM interaction depends on the Ca2+ uptake from the extracellular medium, since it is inhibited by EGTA or Nifedipine, an inhibitor of the L-type voltage gated Ca2+ channels and sphingosine-dependent plasma membrane Ca2+ channel, but not by Vanadate, an inhibitor of the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase. Furthermore, Nifedipine inhibits the invasion of host cells by tissue culture- derived trypomastigotes in a dose-dependent manner, reaching 95% inhibition at 100 µM Nifedipine. These data indicate the importance of both Ca2+ uptake from the medium and parasite-ECM interaction for host-cell invasion. Previous treatment of ECM with protease abolishes the Ca2+ uptake, further reinforcing the possibility that these events may be connected. The mitochondrion plays a relevant role in Ca2+ homeostasis in trypomastigotes during their interaction with ECM, as shown by the increment of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the presence of Antimycin A, in contrast to other calcium homeostasis disruptors, such as Cyclopiazonic acid for endoplasmic reticulum and Bafilomycin A for acidocalcisome. Total phosphatase activity in the parasite decreases in the presence of Nifedipine, EGTA, and Okadaic acid, implying a role of calcium in the phosphorylation level of proteins that are interacting with the ECM in tissue culture- derived trypomastigotes. In summary, we describe here the increment of Ca2+ at an early phase of the trypomastigotes interaction with ECM, implicating both nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channels in the influx of Ca2+ and the mitochondrion as the relevant organelle in Ca2+ homeostasis. The data unravel a complex sequence of events prior to host cell invasion itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nubia Carolina Manchola Varón
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Parasites, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Walter Colli
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Parasites, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Julia M Alves
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Parasites, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Orrego PR, Serrano-Rodríguez M, Cortez M, Araya JE. In Silico Characterization of Calcineurin from Pathogenic Obligate Intracellular Trypanosomatids: Potential New Biological Roles. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11091322. [PMID: 34572535 PMCID: PMC8470620 DOI: 10.3390/biom11091322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin (CaN) is present in all eukaryotic cells, including intracellular trypanosomatid parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc) and Leishmania spp. (Lspp). In this study, we performed an in silico analysis of the CaN subunits, comparing them with the human (Hs) and looking their structure, post-translational mechanisms, subcellular distribution, interactors, and secretion potential. The differences in the structure of the domains suggest the existence of regulatory mechanisms and differential activity between these protozoa. Regulatory subunits are partially conserved, showing differences in their Ca2+-binding domains and myristoylation potential compared with human CaN. The subcellular distribution reveals that the catalytic subunits TcCaNA1, TcCaNA2, LsppCaNA1, LsppCaNA1_var, and LsppCaNA2 associate preferentially with the plasma membrane compared with the cytoplasmic location of HsCaNAα. For regulatory subunits, HsCaNB-1 and LsppCaNB associate preferentially with the nucleus and cytoplasm, and TcCaNB with chloroplast and cytoplasm. Calpain cleavage sites on CaNA suggest differential processing. CaNA and CaNB of these trypanosomatids have the potential to be secreted and could play a role in remote communication. Therefore, this background can be used to develop new drugs for protozoan pathogens that cause neglected disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricio R. Orrego
- Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1270300, Chile
- Correspondence: (P.R.O.); (J.E.A.); Tel.: +56-55-2637664 (J.E.A.)
| | - Mayela Serrano-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1270300, Chile;
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Jorge E. Araya
- Departamento de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1270300, Chile;
- Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBIB, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1270300, Chile
- Correspondence: (P.R.O.); (J.E.A.); Tel.: +56-55-2637664 (J.E.A.)
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Arroyo-Olarte RD, Martínez I, Lujan E, Mendlovic F, Dinkova T, Espinoza B. Differential gene expression of virulence factors modulates infectivity of TcI Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3803-3815. [PMID: 33006041 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06891-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, whose clinical outcome ranges from asymptomatic individuals to chronic fatal megasyndromes. Despite being central to pathogenesis, the regulation of parasite virulence factors' expression remains largely unknown. In this work, the relative expression of several parasite virulence factors between two TcI strains (Ninoa, low virulence and Qro, high virulence) was assessed by qRT-PCR of total and of polysome-associated mRNA, as well as by western blots. Trypomastigotes were also incubated with specific anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotides to block the translation of a selected virulence factor, calreticulin, in both strains. Ninoa trypomastigotes showed significantly lower levels of trypomastigote-decay acceleration factor, complement regulatory protein, complement C2 receptor inhibitor trispanning, and glycoproteins 82 and 90 mRNAs compared with Qro. There was a significantly lower recruitment of complement regulatory protein and complement C2 receptor inhibitor trispanning mRNAs to polysomes and higher recruitment of MASP mRNA to monosomes in Ninoa strain. Calreticulin mRNA displayed both a higher total mRNA level and recruitment to translationally active polysomes in the Ninoa strain (low virulence) than in the Qro strain (high virulence). When calreticulin was downregulated by ≈ 50% by anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotides, a significant decrease of parasite invasion in mammalian cells was found in both strains. Calreticulin downregulation, however, only increased significantly the activation of the complement system by Ninoa trypomastigotes. These results suggest a role for the regulation of virulence factors' gene expression in the differential virulence among T. cruzi strains. Furthermore, a possible function of calreticulin in parasite invasion not related to its binding to complement factors is shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben D Arroyo-Olarte
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Inmunología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ignacio Martínez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Inmunología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Lujan
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fela Mendlovic
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tzvetanka Dinkova
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Bertha Espinoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Inmunología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Cárdenas-Guerra RE, Moreno-Gutierrez DS, Vargas-Dorantes ODJ, Espinoza B, Hernandez-Garcia A. Delivery of Antisense DNA into Pathogenic Parasite Trypanosoma cruzi Using Virus-Like Protein-Based Nanoparticles. Nucleic Acid Ther 2020; 30:392-401. [PMID: 32907491 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2020.0870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease, is one of the most lacerating parasites in terms of health and social impacts. New approaches for its study and treatment are urgently needed since in more than 50 years only two drugs have been approved. Genetic approaches based on antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) are promising; however, to harness their full potential the development of effective carriers is paramount. Here, we report the use of an engineered virus-like protein C-BK12 to transfect AONs into T. cruzi. Using gel electrophoresis, Dynamic Light Scattering, and atomic force microscopy, we found that C-BK12 binds AONs and forms 10-25 nm nanoparticles (NPs), which are very stable when incubated in biological media, only releasing up to 25% of AON. Fluorescence microscopy and qPCR revealed that the NPs successfully delivered AONs into epimastigotes and reduced the expression of a target gene down to 68%. Importantly, the protein did not show cytotoxicity. The combination of high stability and capability to transfect and knock down gene expression without causing cell damage and death makes the protein C-BK12 a promising starting point for the further development of safe and effective carriers to deliver AONs into T. cruzi for biological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa E Cárdenas-Guerra
- Laboratorio de Estudios sobre Tripanosomiasis, Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - David S Moreno-Gutierrez
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Departamento de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Oscar de J Vargas-Dorantes
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Departamento de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Bertha Espinoza
- Laboratorio de Estudios sobre Tripanosomiasis, Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Armando Hernandez-Garcia
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Departamento de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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6
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Bioinformatics analysis of four proteins of Leishmania donovani to guide epitopes vaccine design and drug targets selection. Acta Trop 2019; 191:50-59. [PMID: 30582920 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious and widespread parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani complex. The threat of this fatal disease continues due to the lack of ideal drugs or vaccines. In this study, we selected Amastin, CaNA2, Kmp-11 and PDI proteins of Leishmania donovani for study, which are VL vaccine candidates or possible drug targets. Eleven bioinformatics tools were used to analyze different aspects of these proteins, including amino acid composition, topology, signal peptide, secondary structure, surface properties, phosphorylation sites and kinases, protein binding sites, 3D homology modeling, B cell epitopes, MHC class Ⅰ and Ⅱ epitopes and protein-protein interactions. Finally, the functionally related amino acid sites and dominant epitopes of these proteins were founded. Some possible relationships between protein structure, phosphorylation sites, protein binding sites and epitopes were also discovered. High flexibility and random coils regions of protein have a tendency to be phosphorylated, bind proteins and present epitopes. Since some phosphorylation sites and their kinases are involved in Leishmania invasion and survival in host cells, they may be potential drug targets. Bioinformatics analysis helps us better understand protein function and find dominant epitopes to guide drug design and vaccine development.
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He J, Huang F, Zhang J, Chen H, Chen Q, Zhang J, Li J, Zheng Z, Chen D, Chen J. DNA prime-protein boost vaccine encoding HLA-A2, HLA-A24 and HLA-DR1 restricted epitopes of CaNA2 against visceral leishmaniasis. Immunology 2018; 156:94-108. [PMID: 30285279 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2018] [Revised: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a tropical and neglected disease with an estimated 200 000-400 000 cases and 60 000 deaths worldwide each year. Currently, no clinically valid vaccine is available for this disease. In this study, we formulated DNA and protein vaccines encoding HLA-A2, HLA-A24 and HLA-DR1 restricted epitopes of CaNA2 against visceral leishmaniasis. We predicted the secondary and tertiary structures, surface properties, subcellular localization, potential binding sites and HLA-A2, HLA-A24 and HLA-DR1 restricted epitopes of CaNA2. The best candidate CpG ODN (2395, M362, D-SL03 or 685) was screened out as a DNA vaccine adjuvant. We also prepared Kmp-11 and Kmp-11/CaNA2 DNA and protein vaccines, respectively, for comparison. BALB/c mice were immunized with a DNA prime-protein boost immunization strategy and challenged with a newly isolated Leishmania strain from an individual with visceral leishmaniasis. The IgG antibody titers showed that our vaccine had strong immunogenicity with a long duration, especially cellular immunity. The spleen parasite burden of each group demonstrated that the CaNA2 vaccine had a certain immune protective effect on visceral leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice, and the amastigote reduction rate reached 76%. Preliminary safety tests confirmed the safety of the vaccine. Our work demonstrates that the HLA-A2, HLA-A24 and HLA-DR1 restricted epitope CaNA2 DNA prime-protein boost vaccine may be a safe and effective epitope vaccine candidate against visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlei He
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fan Huang
- Surgical Department, Chengdu Shuangliu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianhui Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Han Chen
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiwei Chen
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Junrong Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiwan Zheng
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dali Chen
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Parasitology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Cruz-Saavedra L, Muñoz M, León C, Patarroyo MA, Arevalo G, Pavia P, Vallejo G, Carranza JC, Ramírez JD. Purification of Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes by ion exchange chromatography in sepharose-DEAE, a novel methodology for host-pathogen interaction studies. J Microbiol Methods 2017; 142:27-32. [PMID: 28865682 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2017.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Metacyclic trypomastigotes are essential for the understanding of the biology of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease. However, obtaining these biological stages in axenic medium is difficult. Techniques based on charge and density of the parasite during different stages have been implemented, without showing a high efficiency in the purification of metacyclic trypomastigotes. So far, there is no protocol implemented where sepharose-DEAE is used as a resin. Therefore, herein we tested its ability to purify metacyclic trypomastigotes in Liver Infusion Triptose (LIT) medium cultures. A simple, easy-to-execute and effective protocol based on ion exchange chromatography on Sepharose-DEAE resin for the purification of T. cruzi trypomastigotes is described. T. cruzi strains from the Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) I and II were used. The strains were harvested in LIT medium at a concentration of 1×107epimastigotes/mL. We calculated the time of trypomastigotes increment (TTI). Based on the data obtained, Ion exchange chromatography was performed with DEAE-sepharose resin. To verify the purity and viability of the trypomastigotes, a culture was carried out in LIT medium with subsequent verification with giemsa staining. To evaluate if the technique affected the infectivity of trypomastigotes, in vitro assays were performed in Vero cells and in vivo in ICR-CD1 mice. The technique allowed the purification of metacyclic trypomastigotes of other stages of T. cruzi in a percentage of 100%, a greater recovery was observed in cultures of 12days. There were differences regarding the recovery of metacyclic trypomastigotes for both DTUs, being DTU TcI the one that recovered a greater amount of these forms. The technique did not affect parasite infectivity in vitro or/and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Programa de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Programa de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Cielo León
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Programa de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad del Rosadio, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gabriela Arevalo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad del Rosadio, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paula Pavia
- Unidad de Investigación Cientifica, Subdirección de Docencia e Investigación, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gustavo Vallejo
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical-LIPT, Universidad del Tolima, Ibague, Colombia
| | - Julio César Carranza
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical-LIPT, Universidad del Tolima, Ibague, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Programa de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Bogotá, Colombia.
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9
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Hashimoto M, Nara T, Mita T, Mikoshiba K. Morpholino antisense oligo inhibits trans-splicing of pre-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor mRNA of Trypanosoma cruzi and suppresses parasite growth and infectivity. Parasitol Int 2015; 65:175-9. [PMID: 26680159 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 11/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Morpholino antisense oligos (MAOs) are used to investigate physiological gene function by inhibiting gene translation or construction of specific alternative splicing variants by blocking cis-splicing. MAOs are attractive drug candidates for viral- and bacterial-infectious disease therapy because of properties such as in vivo stability and specificity to target genes. Recently, we showed that phosphorothioate antisense oligos against Trypanosoma cruzi inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (TcIP(3)R) mRNA inhibit the parasite host cell infection. In the present study, we identified the spliced leader (SL) acceptor of pre-TcIP(3)R mRNA and synthesized MAO, which inhibited trans-splicing of the transcript (MAO-1). MAO-1 was found to inhibit the addition of SL-RNA to pre-TcIP(3)R mRNA by real-time RT-PCR analysis. Treatment of the parasites with MAO-1 significantly impaired the growth and infectivity into host cells. These results indicate that MAO-1 is a potential novel drug for Chagas disease and that MAOs inhibiting trans-splicing can be used to investigate the physiology of trypanosomal genes leading to the development of novel drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muneaki Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Nara
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Toshihiro Mita
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Katsuhiko Mikoshiba
- Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Calcium Oscillation Project, International Cooperative Research Project and Solution-Oriented Research for Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
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Nicolao MC, Cumino AC. Biochemical and molecular characterization of the calcineurin in Echinococcus granulosus larval stages. Acta Trop 2015; 146:141-51. [PMID: 25818323 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Calcineurin (CaN) is a Ca(2+)-calmodulin activated serine-threonine protein phosphatase that couples the local or global calcium signals, thus controlling important cellular functions in physiological and developmental processes. The aim of this study was to characterize CaN in Echinococcus granulosus (Eg-CaN), a human cestode parasite of clinical importance, both functionally and molecularly. We found that the catalytic subunit isoforms have predicted sequences of 613 and 557 amino acids and are substantially similar to those of the human counterpart, except for the C-terminal end. We also found that the regulatory subunit consists of 169 amino acids which are 87% identical to the human ortholog. We cloned a cDNA encoding for one of the two catalytic subunit isoforms of CaN (Eg-can-A1) as well as the only copy of the Eg-can-B gene, both constitutively transcribed in all Echinococcus larval stages and responsible for generating a functionally active heterodimer. Eg-CaN native enzyme has phosphatase activity, which is enhanced by Ca(2+)/Ni(2+) and reduced by cyclosporine A and Ca(2+) chelators. Participation of Eg-CaN in exocytosis was demonstrated using the FM4-64 probe and Eg-CaN-A was immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of tegumental cells, suckers and excretory bladder of protoscoleces. We also showed that the Eg-can-B transcripts were down-regulated in response to low Ca(2+) intracellular level, in agreement with decreased enzyme activity. Confocal microscopy revealed a striking pattern of Eg-CaN-A in discrete fluorescent spots in the protoscolex posterior bladder and vesicularized protoscoleces beginning the vesicular differentiation. In contrast, Eg-CaN-A was undetectable during the pre-microcyst closing stage while a high DDX-like RNA helicase expression was evidenced. Finally, we identified and analyzed the expression of CaN-related endogenous regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Celeste Nicolao
- Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, Nivel Cero, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Andrea C Cumino
- Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, Nivel Cero, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina; Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, Nivel 2, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
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Bartholomeu DC, de Paiva RMC, Mendes TAO, DaRocha WD, Teixeira SMR. Unveiling the intracellular survival gene kit of trypanosomatid parasites. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004399. [PMID: 25474314 PMCID: PMC4256449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are unicellular protozoans of medical and economical relevance since they are the etiologic agents of infectious diseases in humans as well as livestock. Whereas Trypanosoma cruzi and different species of Leishmania are obligate intracellular parasites, Trypanosoma brucei and other trypanosomatids develop extracellularly throughout their entire life cycle. After their genomes have been sequenced, various comparative genomic studies aimed at identifying sequences involved with host cell invasion and intracellular survival have been described. However, for only a handful of genes, most of them present exclusively in the T. cruzi or Leishmania genomes, has there been any experimental evidence associating them with intracellular parasitism. With the increasing number of published complete genome sequences of members of the trypanosomatid family, including not only different Trypanosoma and Leishmania strains and subspecies but also trypanosomatids that do not infect humans or other mammals, we may now be able to contemplate a slightly better picture regarding the specific set of parasite factors that defines each organism's mode of living and the associated disease phenotypes. Here, we review the studies concerning T. cruzi and Leishmania genes that have been implicated with cell invasion and intracellular parasitism and also summarize the wealth of new information regarding the mode of living of intracellular parasites that is resulting from comparative genome studies that are based on increasingly larger trypanosomatid genome datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rita Marcia Cardoso de Paiva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tiago A. O. Mendes
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Wanderson D. DaRocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
| | - Santuza M. R. Teixeira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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